CONVERSATION #1 – Social Offerings

DATE: November 30th, 2011 Sessions: 2 Attendees: 29

THEMES: 1. Difficulty finding information in the community as to what is going on 2. Disconnect between UND/NCTC on many levels

a. Lack of knowledge on social offerings b. Students not feeling a part of our community c. Events occur in summer when students not here d. Students want to “get out of here” e. Parking is a barrier for community to access UND offerings

3. Clear desire for “indoor” space to house inter-active activities such as a. Batting cages b. Soccer c. Croquet d. Rugby (New American Sport) e. Mini-golf f. Laser-tag

4. A desire for more diverse offerings – socially stimulating events a. Flee Markets b. Increase downtown activity c. Places & spaces for artists to share their work

5. Presence of alcohol is a concern 6. Expand Greenway, river underutilized for recreation; Fargo & Winnipeg do more with

their riverside 7. Have an organized “Central Clearing House” with dedicated staff that can manage &

implement new ideas, etc. 8. A desire to create neighborhood identities throughout the city 9. Expand transportation within community; bus or shuttle 10. A desire to embrace our weather and create offerings around it

IDEAS: 1. Central on-line information hub; unify source of information 2. Leadership paid position to obtain, plan and implement community ideas

NOTES FROM 11.30.11 CONVERSATIONS WHAT ARE THE CURRENT SOCIAL OFFERINGS?

SESSION 1:

Symphony

Bowling

Bars/Restaurants

Theatre

Sporting Events

Concerts

UND Student Events

Fitness Classes

Dancing

Blues

Art Galleries

Book Clubs

Movies

Plays

Barber shop Quartets

Music

Church

Classes

Greenway

Practices

Kids Activities and Sports

Shopping/Mall

Museums SESSION 2:

Sanders

Library

Sports College/HS – Hockey Football

Downtown – bars, restaurants, activities

Empire/Theatres

NDMDA

Live Music

Movies

UND Events

Riverwalk Artists

Religious Events

Senior Center

School Events

UND Night Life

Cultural/Medical Centers

Walk/Bike/Ski (Safety)

Farmers Market

Community Ed

Service Groups

Fests – Art, Blues, Zombie

Interest Groups – Writers, ect.

1st Night

Art & Wine Walk

French Fry Feed

Homecoming

Running Events

Inline Marathon

Catfish Days

Hobbies

Churches

Service Clubs

Young Professionals

Classes

Gyms

Prof. Dev.

ER

Work

Neighborhood

Bike Path

Library

Dog Park

Kids Activities (School)

Greenway – Lincoln Park Warming House

Flights in & out

Flood Fighting/Volunteering

Military Appreciation WHAT ARE THE STRENGTHS OF OUR SOCIAL OFFERINGS?

Variety—Offerings, Age Specific, Weather, Seasonal Specific

Quality

Affordable/Free

Safe

Short Commute

Little Waiting

Friendly People

Walk Ability Downtown

Clean – Streets/Facilities

Improvement over time

Successful Annual Events

University Activities/Resources

Arts Community – Art Fest/A & Wine Walk

Full Calendar

REA/Alerus Center

Open to trying new ideas

Support for high school theatre

Committed Leaders

CVB

Safety

Accessible

Size (commute)

Parking

Friendliness

Helpfulness

Cleanliness

People Volunteer

Low Cost – Affordable

REA/Alerus

Ed System

Rural/Regional Center

Political Opportunity

Opportunities open to ideas provide input

Greenway

Invested in Young Professionals

Climate – Great Summer

Clean Air

Seasons

State Economy

Trent toward openness

New Events

Increasing Cultural Diversity WHAT ARE THE CHALLENGES OF LOCAL SOCIAL OFFERINGS?

Too much/not enough to do

Expense

Knowledge – No central community calendar Resources exist but not utilized

Weather

Signage

Negative impacts of alcohol abuse

Frequency of events

Disconnect between UND and Community Events

Quality – Student Perspective

Communication

Students don’t feel welcome/part of the community

Students want to leave after graduation

Indoor recreation – Mini Golf, Laser Tag

Parking/Downtown/On Campus

No batting cages

Difficult to “break in” – especially young, single

People who have been here – try new things

Lack ethnicity in food

Awareness

Downtown at night

Resources – diverse audiences

High percentage of underage pop

Presence of alcohol at events

Few daytime activities

Try more new things

Getting people to try the first time

Separation between University and Community – Social/Physical

Visitor unfriendly campus parking

Climate

Defensiveness

Cost of Events

Reluctance to pay

ND stigma ex: performers travel

Not diverse enough offerings

WHAT ARE OUR OPPORTUNITIES?

Sheila G: Buses, transportation that could take people to a place where many activities

Naomi: More interaction between library, arts, etc

Kim:

Stacey – Centralized Calendar, Building & Area

Rachel: More connected with UND

Phil: Central Information – increased communication with UND

Wendy: Library with adequate space; supporting other community space needs for gatherings

Cheryl: No space for Indoor activities, yet great space at Alerus: opportunities for laser tag, and other interactive opportunities for community at the Alerus; expense to run lights about $300. Space used heavily between Jan – May

Kim: UND – Variety of Social Activities, River underutilized, Fargo & Winnipeg doing more with their river

Kathryn Rand – Finding ways to support everyone without having a charity event, Ie/ meatless Mondays in restaurants

Information /resources exist, but not centralized, difficult to find, not being used

Sheila G: Signage in our community; could improve way-finding

Disconnect between UND & GF

KODY: UND: Don’t know again what is happening, also – events or displays quality is not there – ie/ NDMOA – the exhibits aren’t of interest to the college students; Only thing to do is “Drink or go to movies”

JUSTIN: - UND Relations Committee: Students don’t feel a part of the community or think the community thinks of them as citizens, don’t appreciate them. When inquiring about how attached students are to the community it is “want to get out of here”

Justin: Students like Interactive/Entertaining Performers – comedians, grocery bingo, etc – they are full in their venues when have this kind of entertainment. No “active” type facility – indoor that is available to do a variety of activities. Would be nice to have a community center for arts, musicians, etc – people to come and meet. Nice to be a part of UND = downtown presence.

Nic – Ulland Park – would be nice to have batting cages, driving range, electronic golf, etc.

WHAT ARE YOUR BIG IDEAS?

Sheila G – Safe place for “big ideas” to be shared. Should there be a position – a hub, clearing house where information is shared and developed ---

Naomi: Signature events happen when college kids not here - Also, feels that UND is not welcoming to the community; Should have outside stuff like climbing walls, etc throughout community

Kim G: A funnel – for ideas/information to be shared and determined feasibility/interest in carrying through –

Stacey – How to reach entities of young people – connect community with UND/NCTC

Dan – NCTC Graduates pretty much stay here

Rachel: Create Neighborhood identities

Phil – Create an event with national focus

Wendy – Seasoned professionals group

Cheryl – Professional soccer team, house local, international tournaments

Kim: Build on what we have ie/ UND’s swing dancing, trombone concerts, etc; Welcome & Support diverse residents, new comers club

Matt: Encourage more upscale/formal events –

Dan: Increase EGF/NCTC into the mix – how to duplicate the synergy that happened after the flood; - divisions between our community – river;

Flee Market – in Alerus; Socially Stimulating events

Nic – Event Coordinator; seek out sponsorship – so need fundraising person to support

Cathy – Agrees – event coordinator; fundraising support

Kody – Outdoor Albertville – have events on the interstate line where people are traveling – to encourage them to come in; Not out by Jakes – it’s out of the way for most

Justin: Community Fund days – i.e./ bowling for charity – fundraisers…250 people coming together

POST IT NOTE SUGGESTIONS:

Cheryl Swanson (Alerus) – No notes

Cathy Foy (Empire Arts Center):

Co venture with UND Student/Military activity council on finding events

Serving on committees/boards

Social media for events

Advertising/Knowledge of what’s going on Kim Greendahl (Greenway) – No notes Wendy Wendt (GF Public Library):

Library with space for free community events

Citizen courses partnership between library, UND, NCTC

Young Professional group for older people

Use the River- Snow showing, kayaking, river boat, ect. Kathryn Rand (UND School of Law):

Ethnic Food

More integration of campus into community

Restaurant on campus

Events that support community. Free admission with can good

UND community partnered events Stacey Heggen (GGF Young Professionals):

Centralize calendar

NCTC connection

Shuttles from UND to community events

Nic Thompson (NCTC Student Senate):

Ice carving competition

Frolf League (summer)

Barbeque competition

Fair or Carnivals

Northland and UND event that unites both student bodies Jane Croeker (UND Health and Wellness Center):

Enhance/Engage

Invite to Serve

Do with/not for

Expose diversity at UND to community culture management ect.

Expand Greenway

Expand transportation options – non motorized community trails public

Collaborate to reduce associates with negative high impacts

High risk alcohol use Wes Stainbrook (NCTC Student President):

Flee Market/Farmer’s Market (Alerus Parking Lot/summer, inside/winter)

UND/NCTC College building downtown that teaches life classes o (finances 101, long-term care, insurance, saving, bill writing, planning)

Use Alerus for more events to include sports

Indoor multi-sport

Complex (bring tourism)

Indoor – soccer, kickball, batting cages, virtual driving range

Arena football

Semi – Pro Teams

Partnership with Ulland Softball Complex, City, Expand Rachel Lappengaard (EAPC):

Physical connection of campus to city – UND building downtown

Connecting places – Activity and weather

Neighborhood Identity – Creating district zones of activity o IE. Arts district, wellness center, arena indoor

Utilizing technology to connect with community (digital tunnel) Phillip McKenzie (Symphony):

Leverage state wide resources to create event with national relevant and focus

Technology

Natural resources

Sports

UND outreach to community to parking awareness

Centralizing information

Outreach to UND through ads Naomi Welsh (Northern Valley Youth Orchestra):

Fargo/Moorehead – How either cities involve college, must be modeled somewhere

Small divisions around town like climbing walls, outside swings, slides, outside performing artist

Music Events/Art Events – Subsidized to brought out into smaller communities

Multi used space for sports, arts, ect.

Signature community event that happens when colleges are actually in session

One-Stop website/free newsletter with all happenings

Supporting each other – Cross over, music, sports, ect.

Interaction between 1st college students and community at large

Drawing more from towns surrounding Thought: It is not only the community that needs to welcome the college students. The colleges needs to welcome the community there is a breakdown here. Dan Klug (NCTC):

Cooperative development between GFK/EGF

Embrace weather with more events

Embrace River with more opportunities

Enhance relationship with UND, Northland and communities

Multi use of Alerus Center

Coordination of major events, shows, conferences

Unify source of information – one website

Enhance development of downtown

Leadership team with paid position to obtain, plan and implement community ideas

Reach out to smaller communities and activities Matt Huss (GGF Young Professionals): No notes Sheila Gersewski (Bremer Bank):

Paid position that is setup to balance and push this process forward

Setup a UND position and a community position for sharing on and off campus events

Purchase travel/event buses for the arts, much like buses setup to go to the REA

Kim Hanson (UND):

The River, River Boat, Kayaking, Canoeing, Fargo parks offer kayaking lessons

Swing dancing, like UND’s 3rd annual fest earlier this month

Horse drawn carriage rides down town

UND has awesome concerts ie, Dr. Pughs trombone concert recital earlier this month but no one there – communicate

Hang gliding

Helicopter rides Justin Glaser (University Program Council):

Fund day bowling tournaments

Paintball

Comedians/Entertainers

Mini Golf Courses

Indoor Activity Center

Radio Station Involvement

Community Art Work

Expo

A social club for students and members of the community to go not to drink but to socialize

Kody Rother (UND):

Campus building downtown where they take classes

Skate Park

Graffiti Wall

Community tournaments and have age groups (softball, laser tag, paintball, flag football, ect)

Have a student rep on different councils that could potentially be voting members

Teaching alcohol responsibility through wine/beer tasting classes

Street dances

Outdoor shopping center like Albertville where you could park, walk, shop, and eat

Dave & Buster’s style building

Art studios Paul LeBel (Provost UND):

University and Community linked transportation for events

Celebrate success in an enriching community life

Multipurpose clusters entertainment/food/activity

Take advantage of expertise of faculty

Increasing use of social media to publicize events

Create more spaces for limited events at restaurants Bret Weber (UND Social Work):

Focus on building to allow walking, biking, and busing so parking never becomes an issue

Make engaging the broader public a central community goal

Public space downtown like a free library

Accept criticism and take it seriously as a way to keep improving

Local agri/business downtown, indoor fish farms and year round community gardens

With our climate challenges and the work that’s already been done become a member of energy innovation

Bridging the University and Downtown collaborations with an national city (Winnipeg)

The Red River growing diversity embraces renters Madelyn Camrud:

New people party Chris Semrau (REA):

More annual home grown events ie, art fest, inline

Continue to help invest and promote GGF YP

Celebrate success promote what we already have do well Missy Burgess (UND):

Transportation to Fargo and Winnipeg

Fun Center, Mini Golf ect.

Celebrating cultural events (Eid, Chinese New Year, ect.)

Performers, Comedians, Magicians, Hypnotists, in community venues

Solve the UND visitor parking issue

Downtown events not in bars – maybe a sidewalk sale Pete Haga (Youth Council):

Capitalize strength of YP

Perpetrate rising trend of more new and diverse events

Increase awareness of availability of UND related social events

Capitalize on UND’s reach and potential reach

Combo soccer, croquet, Rugby fields for new Americans and others

Increasing access to events through better communication (signage & promotion) specifically downtown

Charlotte Hegeson (EGF Campbell Library):

Series of activities – leading toward routine folk stages, social trailers

Cooperate between non-profit and business

Involve base and community in activities

Red River Valley Theme

More University/Community interaction Laurie Betting (UND):

Link young talent to GF mentors look at Tyrone, Amanda and Chris

Trader Joe’s please!

Market mix downtown – incent arts, restaurants and boutiques

Green line – fast, green transportation throughout Grand Forks

Improve pedestrian for downtown walk streets

Greenway, Greenway, Greenway – bikes, check out, skate, skis

HUGE X – C Ski Events

Welcome wagon – adopt-a-“family”-“XP”

Free UND classes one night a week