Aitkin, MN: June 17-21
Contact: Deb Clark at 218-927-3243 or dclarck0805@centurylink.net

Moose Lake, MN: June 24-28
Contact: Wendy Hjelmberg at 218-310-4391 or wendyathope@gmail.com

Cromwell, MN: July 8-12
Contact: Donna Frank at 218-341-1031 or donna.frank@lssmn.org

Barnum, MN: July 15-19
Contact: Roxy Olsen at 218-380-8195 or rolsen@barnum.k12.mn.us

Superior, WI: July 22-26
Contact: Tia Berti at 751-394-3472 or office@oslcuperior.com

Camp Noah provides a safe, caring and fun environment where children build resiliency skills within the familiarity of their own communities, using a proven curriculum designed to help children process their disaster and /or trauma experience through creative activities and play.

Camp Noah celebrates every child as special. In this safe and supportive setting children are encouraged to face their fears, grieve their losses, identify and share their unique gifts and talents, and plan for an amazing future.

www.campnoah.org

WHEN: Saturday, May 11, 2013 from 9 am to 4:30 pm

WHERE: Covenant Pines Camp – 43696 245^th Place – McGregor, MN

DETAILS:

Workshop is FREE. Lunch is provided.

Because of the land health and land resiliency focus, all farmers of various enterprises are encouraged to attend.

Particular attendance is encouraged for farmers who experienced flooding from the June 2012 flood event, regardless of severity or long-term impact.

RSVP: Is requested to help us anticipate lunch needs. Please leave a message with name, contact info, and # of attendees by calling Cree Bradley at 218.834.0846 or emailing cree@lakesuperiorfarming.org.

KEYNOTE PRESENTATIONS WILL BE PROVIDED BY:

DOUG GUNNINK of Dutch Mills Farm and Gunnink Forage Institute of Gaylord MN consults in soil and plant health,  animal health and nutrition, and ‘whole farm management.’ In addition, Doug farms a variety of field crops and runs a cow/calf operation. Doug firmly believes that farmers need to monitor soils and plants for health. With an emphasis on  improving forage quality, many challenges can be overcome.

DAVID NORTUNEN of Hidden-Vue Farm, Marengo WI, manages 550 acres. David raises grass-fed Red Devon beef cattle and St. Croix sheep. As a way to address land health  concerns, David learned about and began utilizing holistic planned grazing. Through a high density grazing approach, along with monitoring and re-planning towards family and land goals, he’s seen his landscape positively transform.

PANEL DISCUSSION: GETTING FROM HERE TO THERE WITH FLOOD RECOVERY AND LAND RESILIENCY

A panel will share ideas, recommendations and insights to recover from flood damage and to improve land health. Topics: pasture and hayland recovery, animal health and disease, cropping options, compaction and soil capping, building organic matter and soil biology,  cost-share and fencing options, volunteer debris removal, utilizing damaged hay stores, and more.

Panelists represent livestock, vegetable, forage and other crop interests. Panelists confirmed: Scott Kittleson, Aitkin NRCS; Troy Salzer, Carlton County Extension; Janaki Fisher Merritt, Food Farm; David Nortunen; and Doug Gunnink. Panelists Invited: Dr. Bethany Funnel, Veterinary

AGENDA:

8:45 am:  Arrival and Coffee           

9:00 – 9:10 am:   Welcome and Purpose

9:10 – 10:00 am:  A Way Forward in Stressful Times – Ted Matthews, Rural Mental Health

10:00 – 10:20 am:  Small Group Discussion around Farm Disaster Response

10:20 – 10:30 am:  Break

10:30 – 12:15 pm:  Building Land Health for Resilient Systems – Doug Gunnink, Dutch Mills / Gunnink Forage Institute

12:15 – 1:00 pm:  Lunch

1:00 – 2:50 pm:   Transforming Landscapes through Planned Grazing – David Nortunen, Hidden-Vue Farm / South Shore Meats

2:50 – 3:00 pm:   Break

3:00 – 4:15 pm:   Getting from Here to There – Approaches and Advice Panel Discussion with Farmer and Ag Professionals

4:15 – 4:30 pm: Resources and Closing

DIRECTIONS:

From McGregor, head W on MN-210 for approx. 1.3 miles. Turn N (right) on 230th Avenue (CR-62) for approx. 2.5 miles. Turn W (left) on 435th Street for approx. 1.6 miles. Turn N (right) on 245th Place for approx. .2 miles. We will meet in the Bald Eagle Lodge.

SUPPORT:

This workshop is hosting by Lutheran Social Services Farm Core program in partnership with University of MN Carlton County Extension and MN Department of Agriculture. Additional support is provided by the Aitkin Area Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS), Covenant Pines Bible Camp, Lake Superior Sustainable Farming Association, Carlton and Aitkin County Soil and Water Conservation Service (SWCD), Aitkin County Cares, MN Institute for Sustainable Agriculture (MISA), NE MN Forage and Grasslands Council, NE MN Sustainable Development Partnership, Farm Connections Radio, and KAXE Radio. Thank you to all for helping to promote this event!

HOPE TO SEE THERE!

At the McGregor Community Center on State HWY 65

See the flier for more details

Flood Response

Catholic Diocese of Duluth

December 18, 2012

 Following the flooding of June, 2012, Catholic Charities USA Disaster Response Office contacted the local diocese to offer advice and support, as well as a financial grant. The Diocese of Duluth, working with the Flood Homes with Hope organization, and local organizations developed the following response:

Financial Assistance: Funding for flood survivors are able to access assistance through the Diocese of Duluth. This has happened through referral from LSS Disaster Case Managers, word of mouth, self referral, or local publicity. As of this writing, more than $15,000 has been distributed to 36 clients in St. Louis, Carlton, and Aitkin Counties. This assistance was initially offered through parish resource centers, however these were underutilized so assistance began taking place over the phone.

Pastoral Response: Offering a pastoral response has happened through visits with flood survivors with clergy and staff of the diocese. Visits with survivors were conducted in Willow River, Sturgeon Lake, Rutledge, McGregor, Fond du Lac neighborhood in Duluth, Moose Lake and Cloquet.

Emotional and Spiritual Support: Because of the pastoral mission of our organization, staff of the diocese is involved in the emotional and spiritual needs subcommittee of the Duluth/St. Louis County section of Flood Homes with Hope. In an effort to provide emotional and spiritual support, the committee hosted a Christmas decoration giveaway, which was very well attended. The committee is working with LSS staff to develop behavioral health resources for families. Being involved in personal conversations with flood survivors is integral to understanding what the needs are, and what the response should be.

Ongoing Collaboration: Continuing to participate in the activities of the larger long term recovery group ensures effective coordination, prevents duplication of services, and hopefully offers a more helpful response to those in need.

“We want people to be safe and having a working carbon monoxide detector is one important step,” said Dean Minardi, the regional supervisor for the team of Lutheran Social Services Disaster Case Managers.

The Disaster Case Managers have worked with a number of residents whose furnaces appeared to work after the flood, but later discovered that they failed during the intense cold. In several cases, residents have been forced out of their homes by small fires or carbon monoxide.

Disaster Case Managers have helped dozens of residents across the region replace furnaces, boilers and hot water heaters damaged in last summer’s floods. Many residents have tried to survive the winter with equipment that was damaged by the flooding. The recent extreme cold caused some of that damaged equipment to completely fail.

Most experts think that furnaces and boilers that have been submerged in floodwaters should be replaced. Damage to electrical systems could cause them to malfunction or catch fire, and there may be hidden contamination in the housing, insulation or ductwork.

Flood Homes With Hope is the multiagency campaign to help flood survivors rebuild their homes and lives after last summer’s flooding. It operates a network of Disaster Case Managers out of offices in Moose Lake, Cloquet, Superior and Duluth. They are currently working with more than 300 active cases to identify the resources to help residents rebuild and repair their homes. Flood Homes With Hope partners include the United Ways of Greater Duluth, Carlton County and Douglas County, Ecolibrium3, One Roof Housing, the Salvation Army, Lutheran Social Services, Carlton County, St. Louis County among many others.

The carbon monoxide detectors are available for free for flood survivors from the Disaster Case Managers, who can be contacted at (218) 499-9480 or through the Flood Homes With Hope website at www.FloodHomesWithHope.org.

The carbon monoxide detectors were donated by the Kidde Corporation, makers of the Nighthawk carbon monoxide detector, with additional detectors purchased through donations from the Salvation Army and the Northeast Minnesota Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2013/01/31/economy/duluth-flood-relief-deadline