National Catholic Education Association (NCEA) Conference in Minneapolis

• Minnesota Highlights
• Continuing Education
• Virtual Schools
• Safe Environment Training
• Join us for Coffee?

The first flat-bottom ice cream cone was invented by Minnesota company Dairy Queen in 1948. Other Minnesota inventions include: Masking and Scotch tape, Bisquick, Tonka Trucks, the snowmobile, the bundt pan, Aveda beauty products, water skis and Kitty Litter.

The processes to puff wheat and rice were discovered in Minnesota and are used to create rice cakes. Other Minnesota food products include: Betty Crocker, Land O’Lakes, SPAM, Green Giant vegetables, Hamburger Helper, Pillsbury, Cheerios & Wheaties cereal, Nature Valley granola bars, Old El Paso salsa, Yoplait yogurt, Totinos & Red Baron pizza, Fruit Roll-ups, Fruit Shapes, Fruit Gushers and if that’s not enough, Fruit by the Foot.

Minneapolis’ famed skyway system connects nearly 52 blocks (five miles!) of downtown making it possible to live, eat, work and shop without going outside (after all, it has been known to snow in April).

But, no worries because Minneapolis has more golfers per capita than any other city in the country and 90,000 miles of shoreline (more than California, Florida and Hawaii combined!). Minnesota also has one recreational boat per every six people (more than any other state).

And speaking of weather, Rollerblades were the first commercially successful in-line Roller Skates. Minnesota students invented them in 1980 when they were looking for a way to practice Hockey during the off-season. Their design was an ice hockey boot with 3 inline wheels instead of a blade.

The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden is not too far from the Convention Center site (but we don’t recommend walking there) and is the largest urban sculpture garden in the country.

Shopping in Minnesota is tremendous. In 1956, Southdale became the nation’s first enclosed climate-controlled mall and today the Mall of America (boasting 4.3 MILES of store front and 40 million annual visitors – more than the combined populations of North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa . . . and Canada) calls Minnesota home. And, if you’re not sure how big that is, imagine: 7 Yankee stadiums could fit inside MOA. P.S. There is no sales tax on clothing in Minnesota.

Other Minnesota claims to fame . . .

The first children’s department in a library is said to be that of the Minneapolis Public Library, which separated children’s books from the rest of the collection over a hundred years ago in Dec. 1889.

In 1963, the first super computer, the Control Data 6600, was designed here and used by the military to simulate nuclear explosions and break Soviet codes. These computers also were used to model complex phenomena such as hurricanes and galaxies.

Started just over 20 years ago, the first Dunn Bros. coffee shop was founded in St. Paul Minnesota. Their story is quite simple: coffee is roasted on site in small drum roasters by certified roasting professionals.

And I’d be remiss if I did not mention some highlights of Professional Learning Board, a nationally recognized leader in delivering:

Continuing Education (from $39/teacher) – Online continuing education courses for Catholic K-12 teachers cover a range of topics and are available as self-study, instructor facilitated and graduate credit from the University of St. Thomas (also of Minnesota fame). Click here for more info.

Virtual Schools (from $10,000) – Extend your Catholic school system’s reach to more Catholic students in rural areas who no longer have access to a Catholic high school education while also offering more courses to current students. Click here for more info.

Join me for some of that Minnesota coffee?

Please join me for a cup of coffee or a chat during the NCEA convention. If you’ll be here in Minneapolis for the convention, let me know and we’ll set up a time.

Ellen Paxton