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Lori Sturdevant: Tweet for engagement

Last update: July 15, 2009 - 5:52 PM

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TWEET FOR ENGAGEMENT

New technology for a good purpose

If you're old enough to know what a teach-in is, you may not be sure what happens at a tweetup. If that describes you, then you should check out the National Civic Summit, which convened last night and runs until Friday in Minneapolis.

For the next two days at the Minneapolis Hilton, representatives of about 50 tech-savvy civic organizations will show and tell what they know about using new media to advance their work. About 100 civic organizations from around the country plan to send representatives to the event. That's not including the members of the National Association of Secretaries of State, which begins its three-day summer conference at the Hilton on Friday.

The two events were designed to coincide, explained Minnesota Secretary of State Mark Ritchie. Secretaries of state that oversee election administration (that's most of them) are increasingly interested in how Web-based social networking can be used as a tool to increase voter participation.

The National Civic Summit isn't just about bringing conferees together in a hotel. Its aim is much bigger. It plans to make the conference's contents available online at www.nationalcivicsummit.com. Virtual participation is encouraged. Summit organizers hope to demystify new, low-cost Web-based tools for engaging people in solving public problems, in hopes of hastening their adoption.

HONORING BLATZ

Her good works are ongoing

Kathleen Blatz's service to Minnesota as a jurist and lawmaker who advanced the rights of children will receive well-deserved recognition this weekend from the National Governors Association. Nominated by Gov. Tim Pawlenty, she is one of three state officials to win the NGA's annual award for distinguished service to state government.

Blatz was a leading voice for children's well-being, both as a member of the Minnesota House for 15 years and as a judge who served almost eight years as chief justice of the Minnesota Supreme Court. Her Children's Justice Initiative moved displaced children more quickly through foster care and into permanent homes and heightened national awareness of ways in which the legal system could better serve at-risk kids.

Blatz stepped down from the bench in January 2006, but she hasn't retired. She's active as an arbitration judge, sits on a number of community and corporate boards, and recently completed a stint as chair of the University of St. Thomas law school's board of governors. Here's hoping the message she hears when she receives the NGA award on Saturday is "Keep it up."

LORI STURDEVANT

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