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MACOG
News Archive - FY11-12
Warm, Bliss Talk Rural America with Secretary Vilsack |
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1/28/12, St. Joseph, MO
David Warm, Executive Director of the Mid-America Regional Council, and Tom Bliss, MACOG President and Executive Director of the Mo-Kan Regional Council, met wtih U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack on January 28 to discuss issues facing rural communities in Missouri. The rural development roundtable, which was hosted by MARC, focused on regional partnership and innovation during difficult economic times, particularly in our nation's agricultural regions. |
Railsback Promotes Regional Agenda to Obama |
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12/6/11, Osawatomie, KS
Randy Railsback, Executive Director of the Green Hills Regional Planning Commission, met with President Obama for several minutes on December 6 just prior to the President's address to the residents of Osawatomie, Kansas. Randy took the opportunity to stress the importance of regional development organizations to the President and highlight the key community development challenges for Missouri's rural communities.
Janie Dunning, USDA - Rural Development Missouri State Director, offered this last minute opportunity to Randy after she was contacted by the White House a few days prior to the President's visit. Janie said the White House travel planners requested a couple names of individuals that could share with the President their thoughts on rural America. Janie told Randy it was a no-brainer that Missouri's RPCs needed to be on that list.
 After the requisite security clearance and on-site screening, Randy was ushered into a small room to the side of the Osawatomie gymnasium where the President entered just prior to his community address. "While I only had a few minutes with President Obama, he seemed quite interested in the thoughts from rural Missouri and the regional planning perspective." Randy said.
Our thanks once again to Janie Dunning for her commitment to ensuring MACOG and Missouri's RPCs are strategically included in major policy and implementation discussions - and get to share our thoughts with key (and the top) decision makers! |
MACOG Recognizes Fennewald for Service |
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12/1/11, Jefferson City, MO
The MACOG board of directors recognized Paul Fennewald, retiring Homeland Security Coordinator for the State of Missouri, at an impromptu ceremonty during the regular December business meeting. Fennewald was instrumental in the establishment of Regional Homeland Security Oversight Committees, and worked with Missouri RPCs to establish an equitable, efficient way of distributing homeland security dollars to those regional projects that benefited the most Missourians.
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MACOG Hosts Booth at MAC Cofnerence |
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10/28/11, Lake of the Ozarks, MO
Ed Siegmund, MACOG president and director of Mid-Missouri RPC and Robin Fitzgerald, Vice-President-elect of MACOG and director of Mark Twain Regional Council, hosted a booth at the Missouri Association of Counties conference held October 2011 at the Lake of the Ozarks.
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Etcher Elected NADO Treasurer |
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10/11/11, Miami, FL
Steve Etcher, director of the Boonslick Regional Planning Commission in Warrenton, has been elected to serve as the Treasurer of the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO). Etcher, who previously served a term as NADO secretary, was elected to the national office at the annual NADO training conference held October 8-11 in Miami, Florida. |
Missouri Directors Present at National Conference |
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10/8/11, Miami, FL
Four Missouri directors made their way to the sunshine state to participate in the annual conference of the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO). Harry Rogers (Harry S Truman), Randy White (Pioneer Trails), Steve Etcher (Boonslick) and Tye Parsons (Northwest Missouri) represented Missouri at the annual training conference. In addition to attending sessions and peer networking, three directors gave presentations to the gathered development organizations officials. Harry Rogers gave a presentation regarding emergency preparedness in light of the Joplin tornado disaster. Steve Etcher participated in a panel discussion entitled Building Resilient Regions: Strategies, Partnerships, and Solutions. Finally, Tye Parsons presented Statewide Hazard Mitigation Planning for Missouri's Rural Electric Cooperatives. |
Bliss Elected MACOG President |
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9/30/11, Sikeston, MO
Tom Bliss, Director of Mo-Kan Regional Council in St. Joseph, has been elected to serve as MACOG's president for 2012-2013. Bliss, who has served as Mo-Kan's director for more than eight years, will be assisted by vice president Robin Fitzgerald, director of Mark Twain Council of Governments in Perry. Bliss will take the place of Ed Siegmund, who served MACOG as president for 2010-2011. |
Missouri RPCs Hold Annual Training Retreat |
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 9/27/11, Sikeston, MO
Missouri's Regional Planning Commissions and Councils of Government congregated in Sikeston, Missouri during the annual training retreat, held September 27-30. During the retreat, directors and staff members had the opportunity to talk with state officials, including the director of the Missouri Department of Transportation Kevin Keith, about regionalism in Missouri and how Missouri's planning organizations can continue to thrive in a difficult economic landscape. The directors enjoyed peer networking and brainstorming, toured the Southeast Missouri Port, elected officers, and participated in goal setting for MACOG for the coming year. Right: Missouri RPC directors tour the Southeast Missouri Port. |
Etcher to Testify before Congress |
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7/25/11, Warrenton, MO
Steve Etcher, Executive Director of the Boonslick Regional Planning Commision in Warrenton, Missouri, will testify before the U.S. House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management. Etcher will be testifying on behalf of the National Association of Development Organizations (NADO).
From NADO:
NADO will be represented by Steve Etcher, NADO Secretary and Executive Director of the Boonslick Regional Planning Commission (MO). The House subcommittee, chaired by Rep. Jeff Denham (R-CA), is exploring options for improving the effectiveness of federal economic development programs through reforms and consolidation. To watch the hearing online, go to http://transportation.house.gov/hearings/hearingdetail.aspx?NewsID=1358 |
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