Silver Bow Kiwanis Kiwanis Club Meeting, Sep 18, '12

12:00-1:00 Tuesday, September 18, 2012

Clair Little was here again and turned in his application to join. We also had Michaela and Matt from the Circle K join us.

Roger reminded us about the Southwest Montana Federal Credit Union customer appreciation picnic this Sunday at Clark Park which we have agreed to cater. The proceeds from this event will be donated to the EliMiNaTe program.

Shane then introduced Connie Genger from the Montana Council on Economic Education. She is a past president of the Miles City Kiwanis Club in eastern Montana.

The Montana Council on Economic Education was founded in 1971 by business leaders in Montana to help educate students and educators on economics. 9 out of 10 educators say that financial and economic issues are important for students before they graduate high school, but only 14 states require that economics be offered - and only 13 of those states require students take economics to graduate high school. On top of this, only 20% of educators feel properly trained and equipped to effectively teach economics.

The Montana Council on Economic Education strives to address both of these issues by providing training and tools for educators and engaging events for students. They have a stock market game that allows teams of students to follow the stock market and learn about market drivers and influences - and the winning team of high school students each semester receives a financial award. They also have the High School Business Challenge which has teams of high school students working in a simulation operating a business producing Blu-Ray discs. This program is sponsored by the Montana Chamber of Commerce, and the winners each year get a scholarship. The Economic Challenge is a team and individual event each year where students compete on questions related to macroeconomics and international economics. The students get so caught up in the competition that they start cheering for their former competitors in the final "speed round."

The Montana Council on Economic Education also provides teacher training, including the Economic Education Summit each fall. These courses allow teachers to get the training and resources they need to bring quality economics classes to the schools. The Montana Council for Economic Education covers the cost of the substitute teachers for most of their training events to make it easier for teachers to get the time off.

The Montana Council on Economic Education encourages all Montanans, particularly parents, to talk to their representatives about making economic and financial education mandatory in Montana high schools.

The Montana Council on Economic Education has offices in Linfield Hall on the MSU-Bozeman campus, and, as a non-profit does not receive government funding. Their programs are all funded by business partners.

Presentation

Connie Genger, Montana Council on Economic Education

Menu

Open Faced Turkey Dinner

Attendees

26

Event Updated

6:56 Tuesday, September 25, 2012