Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of Dr. Polly Fry, Elizabeth A. Hartwig, Cay Shea Hellervik, Tess Hohman, Sarah Janecek, Dr. Reatha Clark King, Mark Peterson, Dallas D. Ross, and Joe Swedberg to the Minnesota Sesquicentennial Commission.  This Commission, created by the 2005 Legislature (Laws of Minnesota 2005, 1st Special Session, Chapter 1, Article 4, Section 121), will plan for activities relating to Minnesota's 150th anniversary of statehood, which is May 11, 2008.

Fry, Ph.D., of Mankato, is a research associate with the University of Minnesota College of Natural Resources, a position she has held since 2000.  She was a co-producer, writer and researcher for Minnesota: A History of the Land, producer, writer and researcher for Minnesota: A History of the Northern Forest, and a content specialist and writer for Minnesota: Rivers and Fields.  She is also the producer and copywriter for the website, Minnesota: A History of the Land (http://www.historyoftheland.org/).

Hartwig, of Minneapolis, is the health policy director for the Minnesota Business Partnership.  She is a board member and vice president of the Sexual Violence Center in Minneapolis, and has been a volunteer mentor for Bolder Options, and a team member with Habitat for Humanity International, where she worked in a rural Brazilian community.

Hellervik, of St. Paul, is vice president of executive communications and relationship marketing with Personnel Decisions International (PDI), in Minneapolis.  She was a member of the State Capitol 2005 Commission, serves on the U.S. delegation for Friendship Among Women, and is a board member with the James Sewell Ballet Company and the U. of M. Pediatric Foundation.

Hohman, of Excelsior, is the corporate communications manager for General Mills, a position she has held since 2001.  She has held a variety of positions with General Mills since 1989, which have included serving as a project manager in corporate communications, and as a trainer, manager, and general manager of its Olive Garden Restaurants (now Darden restaurants).

Janecek, of Minneapolis, is a writer, editor and publisher of Politics In Minnesota Weekly Report, founded its online public affairs news service, http://www.politicsinminnesota.com/, publishes Politics in Minnesota: The Directory, a biennial directory on Minnesota government, and hosts a talk radio show on KTLK, FM 100.3 She makes regular appearances on Twin Cities Public Television's public affairs program, Almanac, and appears on local, as well as national media as a political consultant.

King, Ph.D., of Minneapolis, is a senior advisor of the Council of Foundations.  She is the former president and board chair of the General Mills Foundation, and an advisor on governance and philanthropic programs.  Previously, she was vice president of General Mills, Inc., and chairperson of the Foundation's Board of Trustees; president of Metropolitan State University in Minneapolis; and a professor of chemistry and associate dean at York College of the City University of New York, and a research chemist with the National Bureau of Standards in Washington, DC.  She currently serves on numerous corporate and community boards of directors.

Peterson, of Winona, is the executive director of the Winona County Historical Society, a position he has held since 1983.  He is a member of the Winona State University Sesquicentennial Steering Committee, the Minnesota Historical Society Grants Review Committee, a member and past chair of the city of Winona Heritage Preservation Commission, and has been a board member and committee chair with the Minnesota Association of Museums.  Peterson has also served as an adjunct professor in the history department at Winona State University and St. Mary's University in Winona.

Ross, of Granite Falls, is the director of environmental programs for the Upper Sioux and Lower Sioux Indian communities where he oversees the environmental programs conducted by the two reservations.  He served as chairman of the Upper Sioux Community for six years, and chaired the Minnesota Indian Affairs Council for two years.  He currently serves on the board of directors for the Medicine Wheel Coalition for the Protection of Sacred Sites of America.

Swedberg, of Austin, is corporate vice president of legislative affairs and marketing services with Hormel Foods Corporation, a position he has held since 2003.  He began his career with Hormel in 1981 and has held a variety of positions during his 25 years with the company.  He is the current chair of the Minnesota Chamber of Commerce, vice-chair of the board of Minnesota Agri-Growth, a board member of SIFE (Students in Free Enterprise), and a member of the Advisory Leadership Circle for the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation.  He also served on Governor Pawlenty's Livestock and Siting Task Force, and is past president of the Austin YMCA Board of Directors.

The Minnesota Sesquicentennial Commission consists of 17 members, including nine appointed by the Governor representing major corporate, non-profit, and public sectors of the state, selected from all parts of the state.  The remaining eight members of the Commission are appointed by the Legislature.  The legislative appointees are Senator Don Betzold, Fridley, Representative Sondra Erickson, Princeton, Representative Morrie Lanning, Moorhead, Senator Cal Larson, Fergus Falls, Representative Diane Loeffler, Minneapolis, Representative Mary Murphy, Hermantown, Senator Gen Olson, Minnetrista, and Senator Ann Rest, New Hope.  The Minnesota Historical Society will provide staff support to the commission.  The commission expires on December 31, 2008.