by Joe Czapiewski, AICP

System Plan Coordinator, GMRPTC

Republished from the April-June issue of Planning Minnesota

What would you do if you had to create a new state agency from scratch?

That’s essentially what the 13 governor-appointed members of the Greater Minnesota Regional Parks and Trails Commission (GMRPTC) set out to do in October 2013. Armed with enabling legislation, the possibility of distributing a portion of the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment funding, and a brand-new strategic plan, the volunteer Commission got to work improving outdoor recreation across Greater Minnesota.… Read the rest

This great MPR article highlights the growing power of volunteer organizations to make sure good things happen – including building and maintaining public recreation facilities! We’re excited to be working with so many of the volunteer and local government organizations receiving Legacy Amendment funds across Greater Minnesota. Thank you to our GMRPTC colleague Renee Mattson for her efforts to highlight their great work!… Read the rest

Hey, folks! Doing something a little different today. I’ll be on a regional radio station QFM talking about the importance of giving. After the broadcast we’ll share the podcast link here as well. Check it out if you’re in northern Minnesota on QFM, 12:30 PM! Here’s the link to their home page: http://www.yourqfm.com/

 … Read the rest

No matter how experienced you are at something, there is always someone who can teach you more or complement your skills with their own. Working with a team to complete a project is a great way to learn and be a better +wood-piler.

My apologies for the break since my last post. It’s been a very busy time as we held the 19th annual Knights of Columbus Walleye Classic, the largest event I’m currently involved in.… Read the rest

Yesterday I sat in a room full of champions, and I admit I was a little overwhelmed.

These weren’t the type of champions who get trophies and stand on podiums, although a few had done that many times.

These were the type of “community” champions who see a need that isn’t being addressed and do something about it.

The occasion was a statewide Mountain Bike Summit, held near one of this state’s developing “destination” trail systems.… Read the rest

Memorial Day is an appropriate time to reflect on our lives and the people who made us who we are.

My wife and I recently visited a few family gravesites in preparation for Memorial Day. It’s kind of a family tradition handed down from my dad, who makes a point of traveling to many family cemeteries for the holiday.

What struck me again this year is just how much I miss many of those folks.… Read the rest

My wife and I spent time in the car yesterday, traveling to the first of what will be at least a half dozen high school graduation parties. The trip was a great time to reflect on the opportunities today’s young people have for building their “woodpiles+” and why they absolutely should make it a priority for themselves.

One thing I’ve noticed over the last few years is that today’s youth have more opportunities than ever to be involved in their communities as volunteers.… Read the rest

We have a lot to learn from others that are trying to build their communities and their woodpiles. Today’s interview picks another person we’ve identified as giving back to their community in some way and tries to learn from them.

If you know someone you would like to nominate for an interview, please drop me a note with a brief story about why that person should be featured.… Read the rest

As we’ve pointed out in this blog since day one, your job or vocation is one of the three main avenues for building your Woodpile. Finding some way, through your employment, to give back and build up others is a critical part of impacting the community you live in. But it’s not the only way.

WORKING FOR THE COMMUNITY

When you invest as much time and energy into a job as most of us do, you can’t put all that on a little shelf and separate it out from “you.”… Read the rest

We have a lot to learn from others that are trying to build their communities and their woodpiles. Today’s interview picks another person we’ve identified as giving back to their community in some way and tries to learn from them.

If you know someone you would like to nominate for an interview, please drop me a note with a brief story about why that person should be featured.… Read the rest