Northwest Blog

Mark your calendars or register today at http://www.nwmf.org/ for our May workshops and events: Charitable Planned Gifting Options A workshop for Professional Advisors featuring presentations and discussions on:   The Latest Developments in Charitable Gift Planning Ethical Issues in Gift Planning – The Sequel Charitable Planning Strategies with Tax-Heavy Assets Your Farm and Life Estate Options   Registration Cost:  $35.00 per person   May 12 8:00 AM to 02:30 PM Mount St. Benedict, Crookston Getting the Most From Your Board: Leadership, Fundraising & Oversight, Oh My! It is a rare day that we think the board is engaged enough in fundraising for the organization! We will examine strategies to assist your board in fundraising, clarify their oversight role and strategically lead your organization. Participants will have the opportunity to explore what options will best fit their organization and share their promising practices with each other. Handouts will be provided.   Fee: $25

As reported on MPR today, the town of Oslo is isolated by the water. City officials say three consecutive years of major floods have not only been inconvenient, but tough on local businesses. Even though Oslo is surrounded by floodwater, Main Street is quiet and dry, with no sandbags in sight. That's a stark contrast to 1950, when businesses and homes were underwater and residents needed motor boats to get through town. Read the complete article here

The Northwest Minnesota Foundation invites you to attend the 3 rd annual IDEA competition banquet, honoring innovative entrepreneurs that are growing their businesses in Northwest Minnesota. After months of planning, workshops, development assistance and judging rounds, t he field of competitors has been narrowed down from 23 to nine finalists. On the evening of the banquet, up to five winners will be awarded $10,000 each to advance their breakthrough idea. Also on the agenda is a keynote address by Minnesota native, David Mortensen, co-founder and President of Anytime Fitness, recently named the “Fastest Growing Fitness Club in the World” by Club Business International. Please join us on this special night, May 17 th from 5:00 – 8:30 pm at the Bede Ballroom, University of Minnesota, Crookston. Registration is $20. To register, please visit www.ideacompetition.org . The finalists are: Kristine Goddard-Anderson (Thief River Falls) Marilyn Graff (McIntosh) John

UPDATE: Flooded roads in area There are numerous roads closed in the Crookston area. This link to the Crookston Times article contains all the latest information. Read here  about what's going on in East Grand and Grand Forks with the Red River crest.

Our early care and education conference is this Saturday in Park Rapids! We have over 100 registered already. You can still register at the NMF website through Thursday. You'll enjoy two great keynotes and choose from among 12 breakout sessions - all to help you in your work with young children. Join us!

Northwest Minnesota Foundation is part of the effort to help offset spring flooding by raising funds to help stricken communities. Fargo-Moorhead has a 50% chance to meet 2009 record flood levels.   There is a strange calm right now as so much work has been done in advance since January.   The cities are currently prepared to meet the 2009 flood levels, but there is a 30% chance that the flood could exceed that level (43 to 45 feet high).    There is really no way to prepare for that and it could be potentially devastating.   Right now, the area is experiencing typical weather, freezing at night which allows the water to move north.   The cooler temperatures at night are slowing the process down, but if there is a tremendous warm up, then it’s harder to predict what might happen. Northwest Minnesota- Grand Forks is in flood stage and the flood walls are up. The Northwest Minnesota Foundation, with four counties bordering the Red River, is poised to help with a flood disaster, as it