By Sally Paulson
The Bismarck-Mandan Student Chamber of Commerce is searching for several students to serve on its board for the 2011-12 academic year. The board consists of local high school juniors and seniors who are interested in learning more about their community.
Students involved in this board focus on the same issues that the Chamber’s board of directors focus on, such as transportation, government affairs, local issues, education and economic development. Students are privy to meetings with local and state officials and company CEO’s and owners. The students get to ask …

At no time in recent history has the need for financial literacy and economic education been more evident than it is now. From the Federal Government scratching its head over a smart financial strategy to the college freshmen wondering how to make ends meet, the ability to understand economics is universal.
Junior Achievement of Bismarck- Mandan is a local non-profit with a mission to educate youth about the importance of financial savvy. The program equips local volunteers with the tools they need to enter Bismarck- Mandan schools and inspire youth to …

The Bismarck-Mandan Chamber of Commerce staff recently participated in a team building retreat hosted by Soaring Spirits Riding Center. What the staff soon learned is that you can lead a horse to water and horses can lead a group of novice handlers too.
Soaring Spirits is a newer member of the Chamber; enrolled since November of 2010. Owner and Certified EAP Facilitator Vanessa Graham invited the Chamber to experience first-hand what her company can provide businesses and organizations.
Nine staff members drove out to Soaring Spirits and the Graham family ranch near …

The Bismarck-Mandan Student Chamber of Commerce announces the recipient of its inaugural scholarship. Mandan High School Senior Thomas Peterson received the Student Chamber Scholarship during a school assembly on May 11.
According to Student Chamber staff coordinator Sally Paulson, the scholarship was created as a way to recognize students for their active participation on the Student Chamber and for their leadership tendencies outside of the Chamber.
“Our intent is to recognize an outstanding local student and to provide some financial relief for their first year of post-secondary school,” Paulson says.
The $500 scholarship …

By Kylie Blanchard, Clearwater Communications

Connecting business and education is key to a community’s success and educating the community’s youth to be tomorrow’s business leaders helps to ensure its vitality. The Bismarck-Mandan Chamber of Commerce plays an active role in facilitating relationships between business and education, and promotes and coordinates many business education programs throughout Bismarck-Mandan.
 
“One of these entities can’t exist without the other,” says Sally Paulson, Bismarck-Mandan Chamber program director. “The Chamber has made this connection a priority and has even included it in our strategic plan.”
She says this …

Saturday, Feb. 12 marked the 6th Annual JA Monopoly Tournament. The fundraiser, which was hosted at Dorothy Moses Elementary in Bismarck, attracted more than 100 players who had the chance to see how the game of Monopoly relates to real life situations and financial decisions.
“Even though this is a game, the younger players start to make the connection between buying and selling and money management and how it aff ects their real life,” said event organizer and JA Director Sally Paulson.
Mr. Monopoly Jon Simmers served as the official emcee. He …

Junior Achievement (JA) and Cumulus Broadcasting will hold the 6th Annual JA Monopoly Tournament on Saturday, Feb. 12 at Dorothy Moses Elementary in Bismarck.
The tournament will crown winners in three categories and help to raise enough funds to reach 4,000 students in 200 classrooms throughout Bismarck- Mandan.
“This year, we will be holding the event at Dorothy Moses Elementary,” says Sally Paulson, JA program director. “Everyone will have a great time, guaranteed!”
The tournament, which is open to children in grade 4 through adults, pits players against each other through three age …

Junior Achievement of Bismarck-Mandan hosted new and returning volunteers at their semi-annual JA Training last month.
Attendees were given a glimpse at what the non-profit provides area youth and what their commitment as volunteers entails. They learned that JA delivers fun and interactive curriculum centered on financial education and entrepreneurism. They also learned that the commitment is minimal, flexible and very rewarding.
If you missed the training, please contact Sally Paulson for a personal introduction to JA. The non-profit is still searching for classroom volunteers. Call 223-5660 or e-mail spaulson@ bismarckmandan.com or …

The Best Buy Children’s Foundation recently donated $10,000 to Junior Achievement of Bismarck-Mandan (JA). Brian Maciej (second from left), general manager of Bismarck’s Best Buy, presented the check to JA Director Sally Paulson along with other JA board members. The funds will be used to support and expand the program to local youth in an effort to expand their economic, entrepreneurial and financial education.

Bismarck-Mandan Junior Achievement launches site
to promote financial literacy in kids
Bismarck-Mandan Junior Achievement (JA) recently launched a new Web site dedicated to delivering local content about its programming; programming that provides hands-on, experiential lessons that teach key concepts of work readiness, entrepreneurship and financial literacy to young people.
“The Web site was something we have thought about for awhile and when last year’s Bismarck-Mandan Leadership group, who had the JA field project, also said a local Web site would be an important piece of our local puzzle, we definitely knew it was …