LOCAL BRIEFS

People who work with volunteers as part of their business, nonprofit, community, school or faith group can gain new skills and a certificate in volunteer leadership through a training series that will be offered at CLC.

The training was developed by the Minnesota Association for Volunteer Administration and is designed to help volunteer leaders enhance their ability to recruit, manage, support and evaluate volunteer resources.

The training involves two full-day sessions and will be offered from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on March 13 and April 24 at Central Lakes College in Brainerd.

In Brainerd, the series is co-hosted by the Crow Wing County Volunteer Coordinators.

Earth Day Expo planned at Westgate Mall

In recognition of the 38th anniversary of Earth Day, Thirty Lakes Watershed District and Crow Wing Soil and Water Conservation District have organized the "Earth Day Expo 2008" on April 22 at the Westgate Mall.

Forty businesses and organizations will have displays and demonstrations of "earth-friendly" products and ideas for eliminating non-point source pollution through stormwater management.

Anyone interested in participating should call Tasha Lauer at 828-0243 for a registration form.

Morrison County DFL re-elects Keeton, Adamek to party posts

LITTLE FALLS - The Morrison County DFL Party re-elected its chair and associate chair Saturday at its county convention.

Bob Keeton, a retired educator from Lincoln, was re-elected county chairman. Cathy Adamek of Randall was re-elected associate chair.

The 106 resolutions that were submitted at the precinct caucuses were whittled down to 20 for consideration at the state convention in Rochester in June.

Among the party officials and elected officials who spoke at the convention were Rep. Al Doty, DFL-Royalton, U.S. Rep. Jim Oberstar, D-Minn., state DFL Chair Brian Melendez and representatives of the U.S. Senate campaigns of Al Franken, Mike Ciresi and Jack Nelson-Pallmeyer.

Hegstad to discuss youth mission trip to Pine Ridge Reservation

Dan Hegstad will discuss a youth mission trip to the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota at the noon March 13 meeting of the League of Women Voters of the Brainerd Lakes Area at the Brainerd Public Library.

Hegstad, station manager of KAWB, Lakeland Public TV, and Pastor Deborah Celley of First Congregational United Church of Christ made the trip along with youth representatives of four churches from Brainerd, Staples, Wadena and New York Mills.

The young people interacted with members of the Oglala Dakota Tribe.

Pawlenty appoints 12 to Explore Minnesota Tourism Council

Gov. Tim Pawlenty announced 12 appointments to the Explore Minnesota Tourism Council, including the appointment of Mark Novotny, Hackensack.

Novotny owns and operates the Hyde-A-Way Bay Resort in Hackensack with his wife and family. He is a member of the Congress of Minnesota Resorts and currently chairs its legislative committee.

The Explore Minnesota Tourism Council serves the broader interests of tourism in Minnesota by promoting activities that support, maintain and expand the state's domestic and international travel market. The council consists of 28 members, including 23 appointed by the governor. The director of Explore Minnesota Tourism chairs the council.

Whitefish Area Lions food shelf drive planned

CROSSLAKE - Whitefish Area Lions 2008 food shelf drive will be 2-8 p.m. Friday and 9-11 a.m. Saturday at Reed's Market in Crosslake.