To the Northfield News:

Dear Editor,

Thank you for running my pre-paid ads and for your basic election coverage. Overall, I want to thank all of the media in and out of the district and the special forums and interviews for providing overall fair coverage to the voting public. I further want to thank all of the real resident tax paying voters for getting out to vote and to congratulate Mr. Dahle on his victory.

My statement on the election is this: I believe the election results were based more on an emotional party vote than on issues or on the experience of the candidates.

Further, I would like to thank my consultants, Making Words Work and Dancing Sun Multimedia for working me into their schedules on short notice and for their product. I want to thank all of the voters who voted for me and what I represent. While it would have been nice to carry the day, I accept the way my campaign turned out. The voters had a third choice in this very short election period, and this third choice packed experience with a whole new set of perspectives and realities.

Vance Norgaard

Send a Message: Stay tuned. Keep studying.

www.vancenorgaard.com

In my education, training and experience, I have learned that certain paths lead to “results.” Sometimes these paths have names like common sense, critical path and strategic path. For example, in constructing a building, one starts with a foundation and then goes on to structural members in that order. The foundation must happen first as it supports all of the next steps. If you do not build the foundation, you are unable to continue towards the end result.

A second example could be an aircraft. The example could be any aircraft, but I will use a single engine, four passenger aircraft as most readers see them flying overhead in our district on a regular basis. This aircraft is a tool sitting on a ramp next to a runway. It has been designed, built, tested, maintained, inspected and has many hours of flight time. It is ready to go, almost. All it has to do is overcome drag and gravity. In order to overcome drag, it needs thrust; in order to overcome gravity, it needs speed. This is the beginning of a critical path.

What the aircraft needs now is fuel. The fuel will be converted to thrust, and the aircraft will overcome the drag. The more fuel consumed, the more the speed increases, causing the lift of the wing to overcome gravity. With fuel, the aircraft can move from point A to point B. Without fuel, the trip cannot begin and it cannot end. From this point of view, the pilot has a one-tracked mind. He knows he needs fuel to begin the trip and that when his fuel gets low, he will have to stop and refuel to continue. He must confirm that there will be fuel at points along the way. There are many other issues to flying the trip, but he knows nothing happens without fuel and proper management of that fuel. He must manage that fuel so he may arrive at a landing area, navigating the aircraft to a proper landing. He knows that if he runs out of fuel short of the landing area, he will be forced into landing in an unknown place. Often, this choice ends in a tragic mess. Again, the pilot has a one-tracked mind. Fuel is his driver, and he is the rider: best he take care of his driver.

There are some options for the pilot when he begins the flight with a full tank. He could fly the first part of the trip at a high throttle setting, reaching point B quickly. With this choice, he will burn all of his fuel. Another choice would be to use a much slower throttle setting, reducing his fuel consumption and increasing his range and his thinking time. Perhaps point B is fogged in, and by reducing his fuel consumption he can reach point C. Even if C has no fuel, the pilot will have flown farther and will have had more time to concentrate on creative options, enabling the continuation of his trip.

In a similar way I have a one-tracked mind. I believe that fuel drives the economy. Fuel is necessary to get the economy off the ground and keep it flying, at least in the sense that we know an economy. A healthy economy is necessary to provide fuel for a state budget.

I recognize there are many other issues. I am interested in all of the issues. However it is difficult for me to discuss raising the budget for any issue when we are being told that we now have a budget shortfall and that the economy is waning. In our system you cannot spend more than you bring in. Sure, we could borrow or use mirrors, but in the end we must pay. Let’s not even flirt with becoming another Enron.

That is why some of my answers are short. If someone asks me about increased education funding, usually my answer is that I will support not cutting current education funding. That is because I see more of a fight coming on what budget item is going to face cuts rather than what budget item is going be increased. What more is there to say? I feel I am being realistic, rather than lacking interest.

From the context that things are working in our district, I do want to focus on what will keep them working. What keeps things working are the rules of law, the right to own property, and a functioning economy. Without any of these three empowerments, things change drastically.

So no, I do not have a one-tracked mind. I know there are other issues. And yes, I do have a one-tracked mind. Foundations and drivers come first.

Send a Message: Norgaard understands the TRUE picture!

Vote Norgaard for State Senate

www.vancenorgaard.com

Open sourcing originally referred to a set of principles and practices used to write computer software. Let me give you an example. Bill Gates has the web browser “Explorer” for which we have all paid dearly. Mozilla Fire Fox is (some say) a superior browser. It was not developed in a corporate for-profit context. It was developed by very adept people communicating over the net with their ideas until they morphed their ideas into a user-friendly (and free!) browser. And the people did it for free because of their beliefs.

I believe the 30-year transition plan must follow a similar path. By capitalizing on the request for input, we all have the opportunity to help shape a plan that balances the supply and demand for sustainable energy resources. Natural acceptance of the plan can then follow.

Send a Message: We’re all in this together!

Send Norgaard to St. Paul

www.vancenorgaard.com

With hope for the future, I am running for the State Senate because I believe in future generations, our children and our grandchildren. I want them to experience the best life possible. My beliefs, assets, and experiences will lead Minnesotans to become aware that in facing a changing world, we need to make conscious choices that lead to adjusted lifestyles. My positions on the issues are well covered on my website. Please study vancenorgaard.com. Today I want to talk about trust and experience.

In my careers I have worked next to and across the table from laborers to corporation officers. I have been both a laborer and a large company officer. As a laborer, I expected to be paid for my work. At that time, minimum wage was about $3.00 an hour. Young and inexperienced, I could see only the three dollar wage rate and not beyond.

When I was a company owner and officer, I learned the “beyond” part! I experienced all of the responsibility and accountability that it took to employ individuals. When I hired a seasonal person, that person trusted that I would provide a job with a safe working environment that would last the season. This employee also expected that I, on behalf of my company, would pay all wages on time and in full, ensuring all benefits, trust funds, and compliance with union rules. When I hired an administrative employee, that person trusted that the job would be secure for years to come, plus all of the same trusts in me that the laborer had. In turn, I trusted the laborer and the administrative employee to show up for work and give me their best, quality and consistent efforts.

When I signed a multi-million dollar contract with a utility corporation officer, he trusted that our company would use the safest and highest quality standards to install thousands of natural gas service lines and millions of feet of main ground pipe in highly-populated areas. Service lines and mains carry and deliver natural gas which is combustible and explosive, and there was no room for error. In turn, I trusted that the officer would make sure that my company was paid in full and on time for the execution of the work. Many times work would begin before the signature ink was dry on the legal contracts. I trusted the utility would live up to their agreements.

When I purchased equipment to do the work, the equipment suppliers trusted that they would be paid for their equipment, even though many times the equipment was being used on the job site before any paperwork was signed. All it took was a phone call. And trust.

When I bid a job, all of the employees, all of the suppliers, and all of the utility companies trusted that the job would be bid correctly; however, correctly meant different things to different people. The employees trusted that the contracts were not bid too high; otherwise, there would not be work. The suppliers trusted that our company would get the bid so they could continue to get paid on the equipment they sold us. The utility company trusted that we would bid the contract low enough to fit their budgets, yet bid high enough to ensure a peak quality job.

Financial institutions trusted we would repay them. Surety companies bonded our company, guaranteed our performance, and trusted the people that owned and administered the company.

Now that is experience. You be the judge.

Send a Message: Trust Norgaard’s experience—professionals do.

Vance Norgaard for Senate

www.vancenorgaard.com

Send a Message: Protect the freedom we have to agree to disagree.

Send Norgaard to St. Paul

www.vancenorgaard.com

Even though peak oil and oil depletion are going to be a somewhat gradual process, there are situations that could disrupt production and delivery, leading to short- and long-term shortages which can have all kinds of ramifications. What could cause disruptions? Well, let’s start with hurricanes, and how Katrina impacted the price and supply of oil. What if one of our suppliers finds a new buyer? What if another country can pay more than the U.S. can pay? What if something really nasty happens in the Middle East? There are many more “what if’s” and they are all real possibilities.

Now getting back to my point. The agriculture (ag) industry in our district and state is a very important and necessary part of our lives and our economy. IT IS OUR FOOD SUPPLY! In order for the ag industry to function there is a window of time in the spring when the farmers absolutely need fuel and gasoline to plant crops. This time period lasts from about mid April to mid June. If there are not seeds in the ground during this time period, the planting opportunity is missed, and crop production in the state will be greatly reduced. The same applies to the fall harvest. A fuel shortage during a crop cycle could be disastrous. So how can we protect ourselves from this situation?

With all of Minnesota in mind, we should store (in strategic agricultural areas around the state) a one-year reserve stock of all of the petroleum products it takes for a one-year crop cycle. I am unsure if this type of plan currently exists in the state. Maybe all current suppliers could expand their storage for more inventory, and the plan dovetails into the current supply system. All of these stocks could be consumed in the normal manner, using a “first in, first out system” with a one-year inventory. Costs of the system would include storage and the carrying costs for a large inventory. Even though this system could be very expensive, consider the cost of one year’s lost crop to the district and state. Who would ultimately pay for this critical carrying cost? More than likely, the consumers of the food supply. Where will the money come from? We need to change our thinking to match the new realities. Once life’s true necessities are separated from the non-essentials, the answers will become clear, and the money will be available.

This is just one of many scenarios that will be played out in the future as oil supplies tighten, prices increase, and competition for oil increases. We need to start planning and acting now. The example I have just given you does not include reducing oil consumption. The example functions as a safety net within the long-term transitional plan.

SEND A MESSAGE

Remember the 5 Ps!

Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance!

VOTE NORGAARD FOR SENATE!

www.vancenorgaard.com

Send a message: Vote Norgaard!

www.vancenorgaard.com

Once when former astronaut Frank Borman was leading Eastern Airlines, one of their large airliners crashed in the Florida Everglades. The airplane was expected to land in Miami, but the air traffic was delayed, and the plane was directed to a holding pattern. The plane was programmed for autopilot. At some point, one of the three-member crew noticed that a light bulb was out on the instrument panel. This was absolutely a minor problem; however, it became an obsession with the crew, each one of them trying to fix the bulb. Their attention was diverted. During the distraction, the autopilot switch was bumped, and the plane began to lose altitude.

Immersed in a totally black sky and having no access to ground references, the crew weren’t aware of what was happening. They continued to be distracted. The plane entered a downward spiral, crashing. I do not remember how many people were hurt or killed, but it was a terrible disaster–all because the entire crew forgot to “fly the airplane.” This crash was just one part of what led to developing a regulation known as Cockpit Resource Management (CRM). It mandated that a crew manage its workload so that someone is always “flying the airplane.”

I give you these examples because I believe much of the time, no one is at the main controls of the state government. One example of this is the 35W bridge incident. The Governor and lieutenant governor each took oaths to uphold the constitution and the safety of the public. To keep the foundation of the economy in place and for the safety of the traveling public, it is imperative to maintain our roads, including bridges. Many people were aware of the “failing report” of this bridge. Why was it that the bridge was not shut down a year before it collapsed? I believe this happened because our Governor and lieutenant governor were not “flying the airplane.” The person in charge of the DOT was distracted from her responsibility by a Governor who was penny wise and dollar foolish.

I believe there are two reasons the Governor was distracted: first, lack of experience. He does not understand the gravity of public safety situations. Secondly, he is distracted by lobbyists. For about five years, the polls and public told the state government to stay out of the stadium issues altogether, but the team owners and their lobbyists and media kept pushing. Finally the legislature voted to take the democratic voting rights away from Hennepin County people, and transfer those rights to the county commissioners. Voting in favor of increased taxes, the commissioners paved the way for a new stadium.

All of this time and energy could have gone to many more productive things like properly maintaining the state’s infrastructures. Maybe the Governor, lieutenant governor and those knowledgeable folks in the DOT should resign? I also have considered asking the legislature to send the bill for lawsuits against the state and for the cost of a new bridge to the lobbyists, the team owners and the media.

Send a message: Distraction is costly; vote for someone who can “fly the airplane.”

Vote Norgaard for Senate.

www.vancenorgaard.com

The first phase of my professional experience began in 1969, spanning over two decades of background in the natural gas distribution industry. I started work for Northern Pipeline Construction Company (NPL) as a pilot and bookkeeper. In this position, I learned about accounting, invoicing, collecting, balancing accounts/checkbooks, and cash flow—lessons that have proved invaluable throughout my life.

While I was the safety director and equipment superintendent, I set up safety policies and procedures to meet insurance and OSHA requirements. I came to believe that safety is the highest priority and that safety is everyone’s responsibility. Additionally, I set up equipment maintenance programs, purchasing and disposal programs, and yearly equipment appraisals.

I sometimes worked in the field to gain greater understanding of the process and work involved. I believed that all managers should experience field work every so often to better understand the internal workings of the organization and to meet the people who make it all happen.

When I became Vice President of Administration, I was responsible for developing and implementing a cost accounting system, approving all contracts, and managing the accounting department. Along with this, came the task of cleaning up business practices that drove the company into Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1980, and the task of working out of bankruptcy. This is a ride you want to avoid, if possible! However, if you survive, you will never forget the lessons you learned. Within three years, the company was solvent again and paid off its debts. I am happy to say that every creditor who asked to be paid in full over time was paid in full and, all who asked for a discount to be paid immediately were paid immediately. This was one of the better outcomes of any Chapter 11 filings in the state.

As I continued with NPL, I handled all legal matters of insurance procurement, contract bidding, accounting, audits, financial matters and the local, state, and national union negotiations. Part of my job at that time was traveling throughout the U.S. to ensure safety and execution of the equipment programs at branch sites. Traveling also educated me in the various branch cultures and gave me a broad view of their perspectives and performance.

One of the accomplishments of which I am most proud occurred in the early ‘80’s. I set up a profit sharing program for NPL in which the profit was divided in three ways: one-third went to all hourly union workers, one-third went to all salaried supervisors, and one-third went to administrators.

At the end of my 21-year career path in the pipeline industry, I had become a partner in a nationwide company of 600 yearly employees with a total annual income of 46 million dollars.

Phase two of my professional career began in 1989, with the purchase of American Aviation Company at Flying Cloud Field. I installed the first, and I believe to this day, the only self-service aviation gas dispenser on Flying Cloud Field. Even after installing the self-service fuel dispenser, the company was unable to compete with mass marketing of our products. During the time I operated this business, the number of similar businesses in the nation dropped from 5000 to 2000. I was in the aviation business for five years.

Having lost considerable money, I sold the business in 1996; however, I did learn a great deal about the aviation industry in Minnesota and about the Minnesota Airport Commission (MAC). When MAC wanted to raise the tenants’ rental, I was instrumental in setting up a meeting with the Governor. MAC stopped pursuing the increase in rental fees, and the meeting was canceled.

That brings me full circle to the beginning of my organic farming days. Now, 11 years later, I am still a believer in organic farming and am teaching the organic farming process to our two youngest children.

Send a message: My diverse, multi-level work experience and problem-solving aptitude adds strength to YOUR VOICE. Vote Norgaard for Senate!

www.vancenorgaard.com

Yes, the race is on, yet along with the daily grind, take time to appreciate what is free to you: a beautiful sunrise, frosted trees, family smiles and conversations, goodwill from friends and neighbors, gratitude, freedom to make choices, and tonight’s debate.

Maybe I will see you tonight to hear your concerns and discuss your issues. I am always willing to listen and welcome your comments through my website–www.vancenorgaard.com and via my blog. Energy and “peak oil” are the foundation of our future. Let’s work together toward awareness of this concept.

Send a message: Consume what’s free and meant for you and me.

Vote Vance Norgaard for Senate! 

www.vancenorgaard.com