Minnesotans need “more opportunities to engage with business and government leaders from around the world,” says Mark Kennedy (right) in a September announcement of his cofounding, with Tim Penny and Bill Frenzel, of the Economic Club of Minnesota. The three former congressmen say they’ve formed the club to create a nonpartisan forum that generates ideas to make Minnesota more competitive in the global economy and to make the United States a more effective leader in the world.
“Unfortunately, protectionist attitudes are on the ascent in America, threatening the very underpinnings of our well-being and security,” the club’s mission statement says. “With less than one-quarter of our citizens holding passports, too few Minnesotans have the chance to engage the world firsthand.”
Kennedy will chair the Economic Club, which plans to host speakers each month from September through May, and eventually wants to organize trade missions to other countries, in-depth workshops, and an economic book club. More information on the Economic Club and its programs is at ecomn.org.
