Dear Minot:
If you’re like me, you treasure the time off from work that comes with the weekend. I recognize that not everybody works Monday through Friday, but whether you have time off in the middle of the week or the weekend, my point is the same: Time off was meant to be enjoyed.
For me, since being elected mayor, my days off from work often include official and unofficial mayoral duties. Sometimes, it’s a simple welcome at an event. Other times, it’s a meeting of local, state, or national political leaders on a topic of great importance to our community.
I’m still adjusting to the constant blending of personal time and mayoral time. It’s a work in progress, to say the least. Take, for instance, a recent weekend where I tried to attend as many events as I could – both as your mayor and as a resident of this great community.
On Friday, I attended the Minot State University Board of Regents meeting, then welcomed 150 of my Sigma Tau Gamma fraternity brothers back to Minot for a reunion. I was honored to be part of a Disabled American Veterans Battlefield Cross Ceremony, and then I welcomed educators from across North Dakota for the N.D. Literacy Association Conference.
On Saturday, I took in the Kegs & Eggs event for the first time in my life, then cheered on the Beavers at the Minot State University football game. From there, it was back to the Sigma Tau Gamma reunion, with a side trip downtown to attend a breast cancer fundraiser.
It was busy, for sure, but it was also a vivid reminder of the great things that are happening in our community.
While I attended several events in one weekend, think of the events that were happening in Minot that same weekend that I didn’t have time to attend. There are so many things on the schedule, there’s no way someone could take in all of them. And that’s my point.
Our community continues to grow and evolve, and that includes recreational and educational opportunities. New events and organizations are constantly being created for youth and adults alike. Look at the changes made to Roosevelt Park Zoo in the past couple of years. Think of the local sports scene, from high school to college to summer league baseball. Imagine the impact the new Magic City Discovery Center will have on our entire region when it opens in 2023.
The list goes on and on.
I know, we’ve all heard the age old complaint “There’s nothing to do in Minot.” Perhaps that was the case at some point in Minot’s history, but I do not accept that anymore. It’s simply not true. You just have to know where to look, and there are many outstanding organizations in our region that can help.
Here are a few places to start:
- Visit Minot - visitminot.org
- Minot Area Chamber EDC - minotchamberedc.com
- Minot Public Library - minotlibrary.com
- Minot Park District – minotparks.com
- Full Steam Ahead – steamnd.org
- Magic City Discovery Center – magiccitydiscoverycenter.com
Minot is on the move. Our community is growing and thriving, and our residents, businesses, and organizations have aspirations to make Minot even better. I encourage everyone to look around, find something that interests you and your family, and be part of the positive changes that are taking place.
You can find more about what’s happening at the City of Minot at minotnd.org, or find us on Facebook and Twitter. We’d also encourage you to sign up for our monthly electronic newsletter on our website.