Tyndall, SD

We are almost there…..working with Noel Hamiel and Bob Sutton of the South Dakota Community Foundation, Tyndall is one more meeting away from turning in some funds to start our Community Foundation. This is a real big deal, although I don’t think most Tyndallites are aware that it is. We have some work to do! Currently we have seven Board of Directors and are considering adding a couple more to help with the initial three to five years. We want to post $100,000 in five years ( hopefully before that) so it will take all of us to work towards that goal. It is a big task. We would never have had the courage or the contacts to do this without the knowledge attained through Horizons. Thanks SDSU and Northwest Area Foundation!

Thank you SDSU and Northwest Area Foundation for the new community Horizons signs given to us !   We have one hanging in our youth center, which has gigantic windows and it looks great.  We are looking for a spot on the highway to put the other one so that we don’t generate additional sign rental from the state….also, the Horizons tabloid about all the communities in the program has been great. We are trying to get them into waiting rooms and offices were they will be read by more people. After two years there are still people who have been living under a rock (apparently) this whole time and they don’t know much about what we have just accomplished as a community……still work to do.

TCF - the Tyndall Community Foundation!  This is actually becoming a reality with the interim board of directors working on bylaws and meeting weekly ….We have seven board members from the community, some who participated in Horizons.  We are working with the South Dakota Community Foundation with Noel Hamel serving as our contact.  This is exciting and nerve-wracking.  We have to raise 100,000 dollars in five years….let’s see, how many bake sales is that?   Ever forward….

Tyndall’s Cavalier Corner is offering a GED program this fall!  They are teaming up with Joblink out of Yankton and to date there are seven individuals that have signed up for the program.  We know how important a high school education is and this program will hopefully help these people get a leg up so they can move forward with their education and work possibilities.  We all learned through Horizons the importance of education in the fight to reduce poverty and it is clear as crystal how true that is. Anyone needing info on setting up GED in your area, go to your school district and get started there.

 We met the requirements of Horizons and on Tues., the 24 of June, we received “graduation” checks, papers, and gifts….complete with a decorated cake supplied by the Extension staff!  Although the event was not as well-attended by Horizon participants due to ball games, golf and family stuff, it was a nice evening and three newspapers were represented that evening. Many thanks to the Extension staff for all their help, especially Dave, our coach.  Thanks also to Northwest Area Foundation!

 Noel Hamiel from the South Dakota Community Foundation spoke on the beginning of the foundation, a public tax-exempt fund which manages the foundations set up in small towns. Tyndall Community Foundation was presented to the public that night, complete with a nice brochure designed by Tyndall native, Erin Tycz.  We have to raise $100,000 and then SDCF will kick in 25,000. After that, we get to use the interest earned for projects and charities, etc. for Tyndall. There were checks presented in the amount of $3000 to get the ball rolling!    Great stuff…..Now we have to raise some money and educate the public.    It is a great thing, because we do no management of the funds…it is all done by the SDCF. If you need to know more about foundations, give Noel Hamiel or Bob Sutton a call at 1-800-888-1842. 

I understand from Extension Services that we should continue to use the blog and get more people to post on the blog site.  This will be a new challenge for us!

 Just to update folks on the Tyndall Horizon goals…..the Daycare project is still in the works.  The committee is waiting to hear from Pierre.   Also, we have another new goal  started by one of our high school students….frisbee golf in the park.  We already have a frisbee golf course there, but it needs updating. So that will hopefully be a reality next summer….so plan to go to Tyndall park and play frisbee golf.  But I get ahead of myself….it has to be approved by city council first.  More later.

Yay! We can say that we have accomplished so much because of the Horizons program and on Tuesday, June 24 we will have a “graduation” party of sorts where we will unveil the plans for one of our goals, the Tyndall Community Foundation ( working with the South Dakota Community Foundation), and also where we will receive $8500 plus a new laptop computer and printer for public use. (Ours will be housed at the Cavalier Corner on Main Street. It will not be allowed to be checked out but will be available to adults and children in the community).  We will also recognize the successes of other goals and also talk a little more about two new goals which have recently been brought forward and adopted….a daycare and re-installation of Frisbee Golf in our park. ( One of our youth participants is spearheading this project and we are very proud of him!) We hope City of Tyndall will be supportive of this venture.  Thanks to Northwest Area Foundation for providing Tyndall with this great opportunity to explore our assets and work on improving the lives of our residents.   Now all we need is for the economy to perk up and for outrageous gas prices to disappear…….

At the end of May, three Tyndall Horizon participants went to Bloomington Mn to the Grassroots & Groundwork Conference, sponsored by Northwest Area Foundation.  We spent two days there, going to all the break out sessions which dealt generally with the issues of poverty, business regrowth, entrepreneurial ventures, and good food and networking.  Speakers included Dr. Beegle, a woman who grew up in dire poverty in a family of six, and who has accomplished a doctorate through the help of people who helped her get going.  Another speaker, Chip Heath, talked about how his book “Making It Stick” came about and our delegation got copies free as we were registered early for the conference. It is a great book, full of ideas that took hold and some that didn’t. Tyndall Horizons thanks the NWF for funding this great opportunity for towns such as ours, who wouldn’t normally be able to take advantage of something like that.

Tyndall Horizons will meet with Dave on June 10 at the Cavalier Corner and firm up the strategic plan for Tyndall ( we have two more goals!) and also plan a little more on the last community meeting to be held on June 24. There have been some exciting things happening since the last meeting, so it will be great to announce those. Committee members are encouraged to come and report on their project.

The Horizon planning meeting for Tyndall was held on May 13. We enjoyed a light lunch of pizza and then the committees reported on progress of the last several weeks. 

Chad reported for the newest project we have adopted-the daycare. He has been working with state officials and District III. The Governor’s Daycare program is what they are working towards.  The committee has also set up a board, elected officers and opened a bank account. A name has been selected - Little Cavs Corner.   Right now they are working on submitting the grant applications.

The Bargain  Shoppe was able to give $850 to seven different community functions, including four youth activity programs.  They still are welcoming volunteers to help staff during business hours and looking at advertising better.

The website committee is working to get businesses on line now, setting a goal for the end of May.  They are tweaking other sections on the website. The committee meets monthly which has kept the project on track.   One more  thing they added was the Tyndall Business & Service Directory.  Check it out at www.tyndallsd.com and click on Community Directory.

Mark reported that the policy forum held in April was a success with about 50 people attending.  There were good questions and lots of information was extended to the participants.  They will continue to relay new information to the public.

Janet reported that the Cavalier Corner is going about the same. They could use more kids to come in, but the center is being used a lot more for meetings and parties.  One can rent the Cav Corner for a small fee-call 589-3097 to reserve your party.

Tyndall will have its May planning meeting on May 13 at the Cavalier Corner. 6:30 pm is light lunch and meeting is at 7 pm. All committees encouraged to attend and report. We will have a report on the Day care project - Governor’s Daycare. The committee has been going full steam ahead on that project as daycare availability has become an issue in Tyndall. Everyone welcome.