Mini Grants Available for Water Quality Projects

Application Deadline: March 23, 3:00 p.m. Contact: Nancy Dilts, Grants Specialist, at ndilts@mwmo.org, or call (651) 287-0948, ext. 208 url: www.mwmo.org/stewardshipfund.html Stewardship Fund Program MISSISSIPPI WATERSHED MANAGEMENT ORGANIZATION MINI GRANTS AVAILABLE FOR WATER QUALITY PROJECTS Pass It On! The Mississippi Watershed Management Organization (MWMO) is now accepting applications for Stewardship Fund Mini Grants up to $2,000 each. $20,000 is available this quarter to fund projects that address the following goals:

1. To improve water quality or improve water and natural resource management.
2. To build community understanding, knowledge, and initiative related to water and natural resource issues and solutions.

Nonprofit organizations, neighborhood groups, schools, local units of government, and business and professional associations are eligible to apply. For full information about the application process and eligibility, visit www.mwmo.org/stewardshipfund.html. Questions? Contact Nancy Dilts, Grants Specialist, at ndilts@mwmo.org, or call (651) 287-0948, ext. 208. Letters of Interest are due Monday, March 23, 2009, by 3 pm. Nancy Dilts Grants Specialist (651) 287-0948 ext. 208 (651) 287-1308 fax Mississippi Watershed Management Organization 2520 Larpenteur Avenue West Lauderdale, Minnesota 55113 www.mwmo.org Office Hours: Monday 8:30 am - 5 pm, Tuesday 8:30 am - 12:30 pm, Thursday 8:30 am - 5 pm

Fourth Annual Sustainable Communities Conference March 19 in St. Paul

Date: Thursday, March 19 Time: Noon to 9:30 p.m. Location: Paul and Sheila Wellstone Center for Community Address: 179 Robie St E, St. Paul, MN 55107 url: http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/news/20090303SustainabilityConf.asp Contact: Sean Gosiewski, Program Director 612-331-1099 x 1 sean@afors.org Conference promotes ways cities can become more sustainable Model policies, ordinances and strategies devoted to making local governments and communities sustainable will be the focus of the Twin Cities Sustainable Communities Conference scheduled for March 19 in Saint Paul. Several hundred local government staff and members from block clubs, neighborhoods, schools, faith-based organizations and other associations will gather to listen to subject experts, share outreach tips, and learn how to develop community-wide sustainability plans. 2009 Twin Cities Sustainable Communities Conference
 Keynote address: Mayor Ken Melamed, Whistler, British Columbia 
How Whistler, used the Natural Step Framework to Create their city’s Sustainable Vision and Action Plan 
 Thursday, March 19, noon to 9:30 p.m. 
Paul and Sheila Wellstone Center for Community 
179 Robie St. E., Saint Paul

• Local Government Sustainability Workshop ($25 registration fee) Noon to 6 p.m.
• Neighborhood Sustainability Conference (free, registration required) 4:45 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

The afternoon session will be devoted to local government initiatives and the evening session will focus on neighborhood sustainability. Conference participants will participate in breakout sessions and learn about community engagement tools, expanded energy efficiency methods, renewable energy initiatives, green jobs, active living, walking, biking, transit use, zero waste and storm water management. To register, visit the Alliance for Sustainability Web site or call (612) 331-1099, extension 1. Participants can also register to attend the four regional metro roundtables that will follow in Oakdale, New Brighton, Edina and Eagan. Regional Roundtables (free, registration required) March 26 (Oakdale), April 16 (New Brighton), May 4 (Edina) and May 7 (Eagan) The conference is presented by the Alliance for Sustainability and sponsored by several organizations, including the cities of Minneapolis and Saint Paul, Hennepin County, and the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency. Organizations are encouraged to contact conference sponsors to set up exhibits promoting sustainability efforts. Program(s) for the 2009 Sustainability Conference and Metro Roundtables (PDF)

Legislative Town Hall Meeting Feb 25

Legislative Town Hall Meeting – TONIGHT!   This meeting is an opportunity to speak with legislators about your concerns and priorities as our state legislators consider options in order to solve the state’s budget crisis!   This meeting will provide you an opportunity to have a voice in your future!   The Governor has proposed significant cuts to state aids to the City of Minneapolis! Final decisions about these cuts have not been made, come be heard!   Tonight – 6:00 pm to ? Minneapolis Park Board 2117 West River Road Minneapolis, MN 55411   Diane Hofstede Minneapolis City Council-3rd Ward 350 South 5th Street Rm 307 Minneapolis, MN 55415-1383   diane.hofstede@ci.minneapolis.mn.us 612-673-2203

Financial Management Network: Developing Financial Policies on February 25

Date: Wednesday, February 25 Time: 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. Location: Nonprofits Assistance Fund Office Address: 2801 21st Avenue South, Suite 210 url: http://www.nonprofitsassistancefund.org/pages/network Nonprofits thrive when they have healthy professional networks. Join us for Nonprofits Assistance Fund's Financial Management Network at our office in Minneapolis on the 4th Wednesday of every month. Our discussion runs from noon until 1:00pm - although you are welcome to stay later to continue to network or explore specific questions with our knowledgeable staff. The gatherings are free, and open to anyone with an interest in the topic at hand. RSVP is not required. Just bring your lunch, your business cards, and your ideas. Discussion Archive We are launching a Discussion Archive as a place to post key takeaways from the Financial Management Network.  We hope this archive helps promote healthy financial practices. 2009 Financial Management Network Schedule

• January 28: Money-Saving Ideas
• February 25: Developing Financial Policies
• March 25: Managing Restricted Grants
• April 22: Audits and Management Letters
• May 27: Special Events and Silent Auctions
• June 24: In-kind Contributions
• July 22: Working with the Treasurer and Finance Committee
• August 26: Preparing Grant Budgets
• September 23: Annual Budget Planning
• October 28: Reserves - What Kind and How Much?
• November 18: Using Lines of Credit, Loans, and Mortgages

No network lunch in December   The Financial Management Network is presented in partnership with the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits. For additional nonprofit networks and other MCN events, please visit their website.

Half a Million Nonprofits Could Lose Their Federal Tax Exemptions, GuideStar Warns

Release Date: 02/10/2009 url: http://www.guidestar.org/about/press/090210_tax.jsp?source=hppr021009 Failure to file new IRS Form 990-N could lead to loss of exempt status for smaller nonprofits Washington, D.C.—GuideStar, the leading provider of nonprofit information, reports that half a million nonprofits could find themselves stripped of tax-exempt status in May 2010. According to IRS estimates, that's how many smaller organizations have failed to file a Form 990-N. The Pension Protection Act of 2006 requires exempt organizations (nonprofits the IRS has designated as exempt from federal income taxes) that do not meet the income threshold for filing an annual return (IRS Form 990 or one of its variants) to provide certain information to the IRS each year. The IRS created Form 990-N for this purpose, and smaller nonprofits began filing it in 2008. The Pension Protection Act also directs the IRS to revoke the tax-exempt status of any organization that fails to file an annual return, including the 990-N, for three consecutive years. Revocations will happen automatically beginning in May 2010. Experts have longed believed that many defunct organizations are listed as active in the IRS files. (Exempt nonprofits are required to inform the IRS when they go out of business, but many don't.) It is unlikely, however, that they add up to half a million. Nonprofits whose exemptions are revoked will suddenly be required to pay federal income taxes—and subject to financial penalties if they fail to do so. Hundreds of thousands of charities, many operated on shoestrings, could find them themselves no longer eligible to accept tax-deductible contributions. Nonprofits that wish to have their exemptions reinstated will be required to re-apply to the IRS for tax-exempt status, a process that can take several months. "Smaller nonprofits make up as much as three-quarters of the nonprofit sector," stated Bob Ottenhoff, GuideStar's president and CEO. "They are the local animal rescue societies, the neighborhood groups that tutor elementary school students, the all-volunteer organizations that drive cancer patients to chemotherapy. Collectively they have a tremendous impact, and society will be the poorer if these organizations lose their federal tax exemptions. "If you volunteer with, work for, or give to a smaller nonprofit, make sure its leaders know about the 990-N. Refer them to www.irs.gov/charities/article/0,,id=169250,00.html if they have questions."

Public Open House on Historic Railroad Bridges on Dean Parkway March 16

Date: March 16 Time: 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. Location: Kenwood Community Center Address: 2101 W Franklin Ave Contact: Dean Michalko, Hennepin County (612) 348-6286 or email at dean.michelko@co.hennepin.mn.us Come to learn about rehabilitation plans for historic railroad bridges and Midtown Greenway elements. Hennepin County Housing, Community Works and Transit invites the community to learn about the rehabilitation of the former railroad bridges over Dean Parkway, the Isles/Calhoun channel, and Knox Avenue, and rehabilitation of retaining walls and fencing in the Midtown Greenway corridor between Ferment and Lyndale Avenues. These properties are eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, and the work will be completed in accordance with the Secretary of Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation. The open house will provide information about the projects and provide opportunity for informal discussion with project planners. No formal presentation is planned.

Citizen Journalism II -- Taking your writing to the next level on March 4

Date: Wednesdays, March 4, 11, 18, 25 Time: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Address: 2600 E Franklin Instructor: Mary Turck Registration: Register through EXCO. This workshop is geared towards people who have done some reporting and writing, and are eager to take their media skills to the next level. Instructor Mary Turck, editor of the Twin Cities Daily Planet will combine hands-on writing and editorial feedback with discussion of readings on journalistic principles and practices. The class focuses on picking a topic, sources for stories, and ways of inviting citizen reaction to your story. We'll also look at ways to make your stories interactive and will discuss alternative/multimedia approaches to telling a story. We recommend that you take Citizen Journalism I before taking this course, or check with the instructor.

The Nuts and Bolts of Writing Art Reviews on February 21

Date: February 21 Time: 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Location: Walker Art Center Address: 1750 Hennepin Avenue Instructor: Jay Gabler In partnership with the Walker Art Center and mnartists To register: Email lisa@tcdailyplanet.net Is that garbage or art? How much of my opinion should I put into an art review? How much background information about the artist should I include? These are some of the questions writers tackle when writing film, music, visual art, dance, and theater reviews. Jay Gabler, arts editor at the Twin Cities Daily Planet, will walk you through the nuts and bolts of how to review the arts. Participants will: 1) Go on a free docent-led tour of the Elizabeth Peyton exhibit at the Walker Art Museum, 2) Use the Peyton exhibit to practice writing reviews, and 3) Receive a free pass to the Walker to return on a future date. Participants' reviews may be published on the Walker blog and/or the Twin Cities Daily Planet website. This workshop is free, but please bring your own lunch.

Lunch With Brian Lambert on February 25

Date: February 25 Time: Noon Location: East Lake Public LIbrary Address: 2727 E Lake St Contact: Jeremy Iggers, 612-436-9186 or jeremyiggers@gmail.com February 18, 2009 Dear Friend, Please join me next for our next Brown Bag Lunch with A Journalist, Wednesday, February 25 at noon, at the East Lake Public Library, 2727 E. Lake St., Minneapolis: Brian Lambert, media blogger for Mpls-St.Paul magazine and former media columnist for the St. Paul Pioneer Press will be our featured guest. Dramatic changes are taking place on the local media scene, and you won't find a more informed and insightful source about these changes - why they are happening and what they mean - than Brian. Come prepared with questions - Brian is the guy to ask. The Twin Cities Media Alliance’s monthly Brown Bag Lunches are your chance for casual conversation with one of the Twin Cities’ most insightful journalists — about journalism, politics, or whatever is on your mind. If you rush out of the house without a brown bag, Manny’s Tortas at 2700 East Lake can fill one for you. Also, check out our upcoming classes and workshops. All classes are free! You can find a complete schedule of upcoming classes at www.tcdailyplanet.net/classes, or check out the list pasted below. Hope to see you there, Jeremy Iggers executive director, Twin Cities Media Alliance P.S. Do you have a website or blog? Would you be willing to add a Twin Cities Daily Planet link, badge, or news widget to your site? If so, please contact me by email, or call me at 612-436-9186.

CARAG Chilly Chili Fest on February 22

Date: Sunday, February 22 Time: 12:30 to 3:00 p.m. Location: Bryant Square Park Rec Center Address: 3101 Bryant Ave S It's that time of year again! Come out of the cold and get over to Bryatn Square Park next Sunday to share some good, hot chili with your friends and neighbors. The Chili Fest is a great way to spend a winter afternoon. Festivities include:

• Chili (meat & veggie) = Only $3.00 per bowl- including fixings, goodies and a drink
• Joyce Uptown Food Shelf Food Drive: Bring non-perishable food items.  Proceeds from the event go to the Food Shelf tto.
• Fantastic DOOR PRIZES from area businesses
• Info about other CARAG events and activities

The Chili Fest is organized by the CARAG Livability Committee.  Thank you to all the volunteers who make this such a great community event!  Thank you also to the area businesses who donate door prizes and supplies for the event.

City names appointees to Neighborhood and Community Engagement Commission

url: http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/news/20090209NgbhdCommAppointees.asp The Minneapolis City Council and Mayor R.T. Rybak approved the City’s appointments to the new Neighborhood and Community Engagement Commission (NCEC) on Friday, Feb. 6. The seven appointees approved by the Mayor and City Council will join eight people appointed by Minneapolis neighborhoods and one person appointed by the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board to form the NCEC. In September 2008, City leaders approved establishing a Neighborhood and Community Engagement Commission, a group of 16 residents appointed to oversee the City’s relationship with neighborhoods, community organizations and the crucial link between City services and its residents. The commission will be charged with providing direction to the next phase of community engagement in Minneapolis and be primarily responsible for the review of neighborhood plans. The commission will also make recommendations to the City Council on allocation of a variety of types of funding to neighborhoods. The Mayor and City Council’s appointees are Tony Anastasia, Audubon Park; David Crockett, Stevens Square/Loring Heights; Crystal Johnson, Near North; Ed Newman, Loring Park; Matt Perry, East Harriet/Farmstead; Breanne Rothstein, Windom; Jeffrey Strand, Shingle Creek. To learn more about Minneapolis’ Community Engagement work, visit www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/communications/communityengagement.asp.

West Broadway Coalition seeks Programs and Outreach Coordinator

Deadline for application: February 20 Overview: The West Broadway Business and Area Coalition (WBC) provides services and performs functions with the goal of vitalizing West Broadway, the main commercial corridor of North Minneapolis. The WBC works towards this end by focusing on efforts in four main areas: Safety and Security, Business Support, Planning, Zoning and Development and Information and Events. The WBC is located on West Broadway in North Minneapolis. The office environment is busy, fast paced and requires a high energy level as there is a sense of urgency related to the work of the organization. You can learn more about the WBC at www.westbroadway.org Position: 32 hours per week, full-time salaried Pay and Benefits: Starting salary range in the low to mid $30's Position Details: Reports to the Executive Director Duties

• Provides outreach to inform and engage business owners, property owners, community organizations, residents, and other interested parties in the projects, programs, and activities of the WBC with the goal of increasing involvement and interaction with the WBC.
• Coordinates and supports the programs and services of the WBC to include:
  • Business support services, resources information and referral, and training opportunities
  • Facade Improvement and other financial resources programs offered by the WBC
  • Safety and Security Activities and resources
  • Advocacy on behalf of business and property owners with local government and through policy efforts that support are in the best interest of the West Broadway Community and Northside as a whole
• Develops and administers surveys, questionnaires, and other information gathering tools
• Develops and implements projects and program tracking tools for the purposes of analyzing outcomes, services provided, and developing reports to funders, etc
• Works with and provides support to other staff, interns, consultants, and volunteers as needed
• Collects and manages relevant economic and demographic data; e.g., , vacancy rates, median income, etc,
• Maintains organization databases to ensure the information is comprehensive and up to date eg.. owner and commercial tenant contact lists, non-profit organizations and other entities in the West Broadway service area and north Minneapolis
• Completes reports and conducts evaluations as required
• Assist in the planning and support and manage operations during major events
• Other duties as assigned by supervisor

Primary Qualifications

• Resourcefulness, self-motivation, energy, confidence, and reliability
• Non-profit program management and program development experience. Experience working with community revitalization, economic development and/or business development preferred.
• Experience with community organizing and/or community outreach
• High level of initiative and follow through
• Capacity to build community alliances to advance the WBC's goals
• Experience working in communities of color and comfort being located in urban communities
• Experience with using the Internet for work related functions and Outlook, Word and Excel, etc
• Strong written and verbal communication, strategic thinking, and time management skills
• The ability to have a flexible schedule and multi-tasks
• Ability to work independently, as well as a member of a team

Strongly Encouraged

• Community-based research skills
• Knowledge of urban planning principles and practices
• Knowledge of north Minneapolis neighborhoods, businesses, and organizations

Letter of interest and resumes should be submitted as Word or PDF attachments to jobs@westbroadway.org by February 20, 2009. Electronic submissions only will be accepted. No phone calls. WBC is an Equal Opportunity, Affirmative Action Employer

Civic Planning / Civic Art - Community driven land use planning Feb 28-March 7

Dates: February 28 - March 7 Location: California Building Gallery, 2205 California St NE, Minneapolis, MN 55418 Contact: Chris Gams, Executive Director, Bottineau Neighborhood Association, 612-703-2426, bna@bottineauneighborhood.org   Civic Planning / Civic Art Open Houses   Saturday, February 28th (noon – 4PM) Tuesday, March 3rd (7 – 10 PM) Thursday, March 5th (7-10PM) Saturday, March 7th (2 – 6PM)   The Bottineau Neighborhood Association (BNA) is holding four open houses / community meetings as part of an effort to gather information and involve community stakeholders in the creation of a Neighborhood Master Plan which will be submitted to the City of Minneapolis for adoption and amendment to the Minneapolis Plan for Sustainable Growth.   This is a fairly novel approach to citizen participation in land use and urban design planning.  Part education event, part gallery opening, and part design charrette, attendees will be able to learn about area history and land use development through photos and plat maps from as early 1885; be exposed to images and text from well known and respected authors in the urban design and planning field; and actively participate in framing future land use and urban design policy for the area by participating in written and visual surveys. Even more unique is that BNA is opening up participation to more than just stakeholders in the neighborhood proper.  BNA Board President, Tim Kremer, states that “We are actively seeking involvement from those who may live or work outside the formal boundaries of the neighborhood and are open to a broad attendance because even though we are concerned about development in our neighborhood, it may impact people in other parts of Northeast or even the City.”   The centerpiece of the open houses is an over 250 square foot, scale model of the neighborhood where participants will be able to play with ‘building’ blocks and experiment with different layouts, compositions, densities and more.   According to Tim Kremer, “There is a lot happening right now including: the replacement of the Lowry Avenue Bridge, the County’s plans for Lowry Avenue, Minneapolis’ update of the Comprehensive Plan and Above the Falls rezoning study, the creation of an upper river development corporation and the housing market crash.  Each of these is an opportunity for the community to influence what and how future (re)development will occur.  Together they are just too great an opportunity to pass up.”   Major funding for the project comes from a grant from Bank of the West.  Additional in-kind contributions are being provided by the California Building Company and the Neighborhood Revitalization Program.   About the Bottineau Neighborhood Association: The Bottineau Neighborhood Association is the organization recognized by the City of Minneapolis for citizen participation activities for the Bottineau neighborhood.    For over ten years, BNA has provided funding for improvements to residential and commercial property, supported neighborhood block clubs, sponsored annual community watershed clean up and pumpkin carving events, facilitated mediation of issues affecting the community and much more.   About Bank of the West:  Founded in 1874 and one of the nation's 25 largest banks, $67 billion-asset Bank of the West (www.bankofthewest.com) offers a full range of business, corporate, personal, trust and international banking services and currently operates more than 700 branch locations and commercial banking offices in 19 Western and Midwestern states, including 26 locations in Minnesota.  Bank of the West's holding company, BancWest Corporation, is a subsidiary of BNP Paribas, among the six strongest banks in the world, according to S&P. John Satrom, Senior Vice President, Bank of the West, (763) 367-5069, john.satrom@bankofthewest.com

Business Retention and Expansion Workshop on February 25

Date: February 25 Time: 10:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Location: North Regional Library Address: 1315 Lowry Ave N, Minneapolis url: http://www.extension.umn.edu/workshops/workshops.aspx?action=detail&start=1&catName=&mr=true&search=categories&sortby=city&eventID=0&offeringID=643 Getting Started with BR&E: A Business Retention and Expansion Techniques Workshop   A workshop for economic development professionals and other community leaders to learn how to conduct an effective firm visit and how the University of Minnesota Extension can help with your Business Retention and Expansion Program   **Pre-registration requested by February 20 - Space is limited**   Presenters:  Michael Darger, BR&E Program Director                            Claudia Cody and Liz Templin, Extension Educators in Community Economics                          and several others by way of DVD   Why attend?

• To learn an essential economic development skill
• To learn more about University resources for your BR&E
• If you already know these things, then this is your chance to bring along others in your community to show them

Who should attend?  

• Economic development professionals and board members 
• Elected and appointed public officials 
• Certified BR&E Consultants with a team of prospective volunteer leaders for a BR&E program
• Anyone who wants to involve their community in economic development

Register today online  www.regonline.com/BusinessRetention   or   Download the Mail-in registration form: http://www.extension.umn.edu/BusinessRetention/components/flyerA.pdf For more information on the Business Retention and Expansion Strategies Program at the U of M, download a flyer from http://www.extension.umn.edu/BusinessRetention/brochure.pdf

Save the Date - Minneapolis & Saint Paul Home Tour April 25 & 26

Date: April 25 & 26 Time: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Saturday, 1-5 p.m. Sunday Contact: Margo Ashmore, Coordinator, (612) 673-5103 or email at link@nrp.org url: www.MSPHomeTour.com Real Homes. Real People. Real Ideas in this Celebration of City Living. Email link@nrp.org to add your name to the mailing list to receive the Guide in early April.