Thursday, April 15, 2010

Ann Bancroft to Present “No Horizon Is So Far” at NMF Regional Summit

Ann Bancroft to Present "No Horizon Is So Far" at NMF Regional Summit

BEMIDJI, MN – April 14, 2010 – Internationally known polar explorer Ann Bancroft will present a keynote address at the NMF Regional Summit -- Leadership GPS: Pathways for Great Leaders, taking place April 27th from 9:00 am – 4:30 pm at the Hungry Bear Event & Conference Center in Bemidji.
Other keynotes will be delivered at the summit by Andy Wells, president and CEO of Wells Technology and Kristine Paranica, the executive director of the University of North Dakota Conflict Resolution Center. Dr. Kathleen Annette, deputy director of field operations for Indian Health Service will be honored with the NMF Quality of Place Award for her role as an outstanding, unique and valued partner who has worked to improve the health and well being of the people in the region.
Five different leadership programs available to residents of the region will be presented in two panel discussions. These include NMF LeaderImpact, the Red River Valley Emerging Leadership program, the Blandin Community Leadership and Blandin Reservation Community Leadership programs, and the Center for Community Stewardship.
Ann Bancroft is one of the world's preeminent polar explorers and an internationally recognized leader who is dedicated to inspiring women and girls around the world to unleash the power of their dreams. Through her various roles as an explorer, educator, sought-after speaker and philanthropist, Bancroft believes that by sharing stories related to her dreams of outdoor adventure, she can help inspire a global audience to pursue their individual dreams.

Bancroft's teamwork and leadership skills have undergone severe tests during her polar expeditions and provided her with opportunities to shatter female stereotypes. The tenacity and courage that define her character have earned Bancroft worldwide recognition as one of today's most influential role models for women and girls. She has been named among Glamour magazine's "Women of the Year" (2001); featured in the book Remarkable Women of the Twentieth Century (1998); inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame (1995); named Ms. magazine's "Woman of the Year" (1987); and honored with numerous other awards for her accomplishments.
Major Accomplishments

 *   February 2001 - Bancroft and Norwegian polar explorer Liv Arnesen become the first women in history to sail and ski across Antarctica's landmass - completing a 94 -day, 1,717-mile (2,747 km trek).
·      1993 - Bancroft leads the American Women's Expedition to the South Pole, a 67-day expedition of 660 miles (1,060 km) on skis by four women, earning the distinction of being the first known woman in history to cross the ice to both the North and South Poles.

 *   1992 - Bancroft leads the first American women's east to west crossing of Greenland.
 *   1986 - Bancroft dogsleds 1,000 miles (1,600 km) from the Northwest Territories in Canada to the North Pole as the only female member of the Steger International Polar Expedition, earning the distinction of being the first known woman in history to cross the ice to the North Pole.
Bancroft's other achievements include founding and leading the Ann Bancroft Foundation, a non-profit organization that celebrates the existing and potential achievements of women and girls.
Bancroft is a spokesperson for the Learning Disabilities Association, Wilderness Inquiry and Girl Scouts of the USA. She serves on the board of Youth Frontiers, co-chairs the Wilderness Inquiry capital campaign and is a judge for the Nuclear-Free awards and the National Women's Hall of Fame inductions. Bancroft serves on the advisory board of the Melpomene Institute and Medica.
Other keynotes will be given that day by Andy Wells, president and CEO of Wells Technology and Kristine Paranica, the executive director of the University of North Dakota Conflict Resolution Center. Dr. Kathleen Annette, deputy director of field operations for Indian Health Service will be honored with the NMF Quality of Place Award for her role as an outstanding, unique and valued partner who has worked to improve the health and well being of the people in the region.

Five different leadership programs available to residents of the region will be presented in two panel discussions. These include NMF LeaderImpact, the Red River Valley Emerging Leadership program, the Blandin Community Leadership and Blandin Reservation Community Leadership programs, and the Center for Community Stewardship.
For more information on the NMF Regional Summit or to register, go to www.nwmf.org/summit.
The Northwest Minnesota Foundation is a public community foundation serving Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard, Kittson, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, and Roseau Counties. NMF invests resources, creates opportunities and promotes philanthropy to make the region a better place to live and work.