MHS Event: Dave Kenney

 Survey ItemRoseauTRFNFGBHallockWarrenWarroadLearned a new skill.    1 1Increased knowledge.10483865Spent quality time with family/friends.  1    Better understood the topic of focus.7571843Generated or refined ideas/goals.21  31 Felt like a part.32  223Had fun.8351754Rested, relaxed or recharged.      4Made a plan of action. 1      The guest received 60% “Excellent” feedback, 40% “Good” feedback and zero negative comments from attendees.  Skills – Dave Kenney used slides and an interesting presentation style. Attendees mentioned learning many technical skills from Dave: I can utilize his presentation style in my own presentations; he’s good storyteller; the author shared about how one writes and re-styles; he shared the process of submitting manuscripts for publication; we learned about the research involved with his subjects; I had a new insight on how one idea can interest many people. Attitudes – One patron wrote, “More of these please,” indicating an interest in learning more about this topic. The audiences loved the opportunity to ask questions, draw on the authors’ expertise and increase their knowledge. Patrons said it made them want to learn more and requested that programming be in the evenings instead of mid-day, as most people work during the days. One attendee wrote, “It brought back memories. I am 91. It was a cadet nurse in Nurses Training during WWII. I was paid to be in training. I really enjoyed this.” Knowledge – Attendees gained a fresh perspective of looking at WW2 from the viewpoint of the folks back home; “history, history, history!”; WW2 history in all ways & its relationship to MN. Participants indicated the following as “new information”: prisoner of war stories, hearing how the POW’s here were treated well and had a positive experience; there were POW camps in MN; Minnesota helped the war, even in this Northern part of the state; the cattail factory at Holt, and the pigeon guided missiles; many service people were from MN, we learned which businesses flourished during this time; there was some Brainard info; how the POWs were used(labor) for our farms; the importance of German prisoners to the agriculture industry; gained a better understanding of what the people of MN went through during WW2. “I learned that there is more to the story than I realized.” Librarian Feedback –  Dave Kenney was a skilled presenter, personable and interacted well before, during and after the programs. He enjoyed hearing stories from his audience. He personalized his presentations for each audience, which generated a lot of questions and good interaction. The TRF librarian noted, “The program concluded at 8:30 but people lingered asking him questions or standing in small groups discussing the program.” The Godel librarian mentioned that Mr. Kenney spoke of local things including the Warren Sheaf, Historical Society and Northland College, where POWs stayed. The Warroad Librarian noted that Kenney shared local facts including that Marvin Windows had made crates for the WWII war effort and that local resident, Don Hanson, was a pilot at that time.