General

Synergy

Partners(s): West Central Wisconsin Regional Education Consortium

The Synergy Conference, established to help position our region for sustainable economic growth, is a product of the West Central Wisconsin Regional Education Consortium and serves a nine county area along the I-94 Corridor within the Chippewa and St. Croix Valleys. Hosted by the UW- Eau Claire in 2005, the 2005 Synergy Conference attracted 234 attendees who were challenged to help shape the future of West Central Wisconsin. After coming together and focusing on issues and finding solutions to the challenges that accompany economic growth in the region, conference attendees created action plans which became ongoing projects and shared their results at the 2006 Synergy Conference.

Creating Cultures of Health

Partner(s): West Central Wisconsin Regional Education Consortium

In May 2006, the Consortium coordinated a Synergy follow-up conference titled, Creating Cultures of Health: Controlling Health Costs through Alternative Strategies. This topic grew out of the 2005 Synergy Conference breakout session on Affordable Health Care: Empowering Business to Take Action. Attracting approximately 147 attendees, the conference hosted a panel of experts ranging from public to private, research to business development, and medicine and insurance providers to help address the causal influences related to this significant national concern. Along with receiving expert testimony, attendees were also provided several models of successful health care programs from regional businesses and organizations. As one attendee stated: “It was excellent in terms of ‘hands on’ information—also trends, challenges and actual experience.”

Luther Midelfort Academy

Partners(s): Luther Midelfort Hospital

The Luther Midelfort Academy is an internal program, offering personal enrichment and professional development opportunities for their employees. Luther Midelfort surveys employees on a regular basis to learn their interests and needs, and frequently works through continuing Education to provide instruction for those programs. The Academy draws on University resources through Continuing Education to support a broad range of program topics that includes such programs as Beginning Spanish, Social Dance, Digital Photography and the "Music is Good Medicine" monthly noon-hour concert.