O CANADA!MANITOBA | MINNESOTA OUR | NORTH DAKOTA HOME | SOUTH DAKOTA AND NATIVE 11TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL LAND! TRUE PATRIOT LOVE IN ALL THY SONSLEGISLATORS COMMAND. OH, SAY, CAN YOU SEE, BY THEFORUM DAWN’S EARLY LIGHT, WHATJUNE SO 19-21, 2011 PROUDLY – BROOKINGS, SOUTH DAKOTA WE HAILED AT THE TWILIGHT’S LAST GLEAMING? 11TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL LEGISLATORS FORUM 1 11TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL LEGISLATORS FORUM JUNE 19 – 21, 2011 – BROOKINGS, SOUTH DAKOTA On June 19 – 21, 2011, delegates Prior Forums have taken place have included water quantity to the 11th Annual Legislators’ twice in Winnipeg and St. Paul and quality, energy, human and Forum gathered at the Days as well as in Brookings and animal health, food safety, illicit Inn and Conference Center in Pierre, South Dakota; Fargo drugs, rural access to health Brookings, South Dakota. and Bismarck, North Dakota; care, broadband technology, Gimli, Manitoba; and Moorhead, migration and immigration, the Background Minnesota. Western Hemisphere Travel The International Legislators Initiative (WHTI), trade, and Forum is an annual opportunity The Legislators’ Forum grew tourism. for legislators from Manitoba, out of the International Flood Minnesota and North and South Mitigation Initiative (IFMI), The Legislators’ Forum provides Dakota to gather to develop which was established to address an informal venue for legislators relationships and discuss flooding issues in the Red River to share information, build issues of importance to their Basin following the 1997 flood. contacts and understandings on jurisdictions and the region. In 2002, all four jurisdictions a number of issues of mutual signed a memorandum of concern. This includes increasing Its 11th annual meeting was held understanding to establish the mutual understanding of in Brookings, South Dakota, annual Legislators’ Forum and flood mitigation issues faced June 19 – 21, 2011. This is a continue meeting annually to within each of the Red River remarkable milestone for the discuss topics of mutual interest. Basin jurisdictions and group of legislators from 4 Since that time, the Forum building relationships to foster jurisdictions, and several of the has considered a wide range cooperative agreements among delegates have attended all 10 of significant issues directly the jurisdictions on important of the previous annual meetings. impacting the region. The issues issues. Sponsors Opening Reception • MDU Resources – Tuesday A variety of businesses and • TransCanada – Monday Morning Break organizations provided Breakfast • Northwestern Energy – financial and in-kind • MDU Resources – Monday Tuesday Lunch assistance and sponsorship to Morning Break support specific and general • Xcel Energy – Monday “General” Sponsors aspects of the Forum. The Luncheon • Basin Electric Steering Committee and the • Pfizer Government • Missouri River Energy Consensus Council would like Relations – Afternoon • Ottertail Power to acknowledge these groups Break • Great River Energy and individuals and express • SD Electric Utility • AT & T External Affairs their appreciation for their Company – Monday • Brookings Economic generosity: Formal Dinner Development • The Canadian Consulate • Daktronics “Event” Sponsors in Minneapolis – Monday • Iberdrola Renewables • Mid American Energy – Formal Dinner • NextEra Pre-meeting dinner • Barr Engineering – • Manitoba Conservation • Northwestern Energy – Tuesday Morning Breakfast • Brookings Convention and Visitors Bureau 2 11TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL LEGISLATORS FORUM The Forums have demonstrated guides. The 60-mile roundtrip David L. Chicoine, that all of the jurisdictions share was highlighted by a panorama President, South Dakota many common concerns, and of over 300 wind turbines of State University solutions that originate in one varying ages and production Teresa McKnight, CEO of the jurisdictions to deal with capabilities, a stop for a tour and Executive Director, issues can often be shared for of a “working” 1.5 megawatt Innovation Campus, SDSU mutual benefit. The Legislators’ wind turbine, a running view [email protected] Forum has worked to build of the latest transmission lines, relationships, understanding, a drive-by of the Yankee and An opening reception, hosted share information, and develop WAPA substations, and a guided at the Innovation Campus, collaborative agreements on a tour of Basin Electric’s Deer South Dakota State University, wide variety of issues relevant to Creek station (300-megawatt provided the delegates, and affecting the participating combined cycle power plan presenters, spouses, staff and jurisdictions. currently under construction). dignitaries with an opportunity to renew old friendships and In 2011, the Forum focused on • Steering Committee begin new ones. Val Rausch two specific topics: “Innovation,” Meeting and Susan Wismer - South including research and The ILF Steering Committee, Dakota’s representatives on the development and jurisdictional made up of two legislators ILF Steering Committee and successes and expertise; from each of the four the official co-hosts of the 2011 and “energy production and jurisdictions, meets on Forum – greeted the participants transmission.” The delegates a regular basis and is and guests. Matt Michels, also received updates on regional responsible to plan and Lt. Governor of South Dakota, water issues. coordinate each annual and David L. Chicoine, Forum. Members of this President of South Dakota State Sunday, June 19, 2011 committee met briefly prior University, provided welcoming to the Forum to review the remarks. Pre-Meeting Activities agenda and finalize the • Tour – “Buffalo Ridge logistics and arrangements. Teresa McKnight, CEO Energy Highlights” and Executive Director of the Jim Nichols, Site Manager, • Opening Reception Innovation Campus provided Edison Capital – the delegates and guests with jnicholsitctel.com an overview of the Innovation Representative Roger Campus, its purpose, activities Solum (SD) - and future plans, followed by a [email protected] tour of the facility. The location of the Forum Monday, June 20, 2011 provided an excellent opportunity for delegates to Opening visit and view a wide variety of Representative Susan energy-related sites and projects. Representative Val Rausch, Wismer (SD) To that end, a pre-meeting Speaker of the House (South [email protected] tour of these locations along Dakota) Representative and Speaker Buffalo Ridge was provided [email protected] of the House, Val Rausch for those delegates that were Representative Susan (SD) [email protected] interested and able to attend. Wismer (South Dakota) Jim Nichols and Roger Solum, swismerbrittonsd.com Representatives Susan Wismer two individuals with very unique Matt Michels, Lt. Governor, and Val Rausch opened the first perspectives and expertise South Dakota session with a warm welcome to (see bios) served as the tour the legislators, followed by self- 11TH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL LEGISLATORS FORUM 1 introductions and a review of the that are actively underway to meeting agenda and materials. apply/transfer these advances to The delegates then reviewed and industry and business. affirmed the consensus-based decision-making process and the Delegates were informed about ground rules. the activities and capabilities in each jurisdiction, and This year’s Forum focused on the potential opportunities two topics: to leverage the respective • “Innovation” – An overview of knowledge-based research and experience and strengths at the innovation environment industry successes. the regional level in order to and expertise in each collaborate on initiatives of jurisdiction, and discussion James Blatz, Associate mutual interest and benefit. about the role of legislators Dean, Research, Faculty of in encouraging the growth Engineering and Professor of Jurisdictional Highlights: of the knowledge-based Civil Engineering, University of Manitoba – economy; and Manitoba • There is a heavy reliance • “Energy Production and [email protected] on federal funding of Transmission” – An overview Avery Jodoin, Business research at universities in of current activities and Development Manager, Canada, activities are being future plans for energy Manitoba Science, Innovation undertaken to promote generation and transmission. and Business Development, greater private sector The delegates also received Government of Manitoba investment in research. updates on regional water [email protected] • Manitoba has developed issues. Mark Luecke, Managing expertise in three major Director and CEO, South Dakota knowledge-based areas: Each session featured a Innovation Partners, LLC life sciences, information panel presentation provided [email protected] communication technologies, by individuals distinguished Kevin Kephart, Vice President and clean energy. The life by their knowledge and for Research, South Dakota sciences area includes human experience. All presentations State University health and bio-products. were followed by an opportunity [email protected] • To develop these knowledge- for the delegates to engage in Jay W. Schrankler, Executive based industries, the a question/answer/discussion Director, Office for Technology Government of Manitoba period with the respective Commercialization, University of has developed a suite of presenters. Minnesota [email protected] incentives including an Phil Boudjouk, Vice President, R&D Tax Credit, Small Resume and background Research, Creative Activities Business Venture Capital information