Tyndall, SD

On Wednesday, April 16, at the Tyndall Community Center, there will be a public forum on policies concerning low income and high poverty issues. Cathy Brechtelsbauer, Bread for the World volunteer, is going to speak.  There will also be a guest panel to answer questions on these topics.   This is really for everyone.  There will be free blood pressure screenings from 6 - 7 pm and other information brochures on general health and wellness.  There will be a free supper catered by Eric from Sportsmans Rendezvous- we will need a supper count preferably by April 7th.  Call Mark at 589-3904 to give him your family’s count.  The meeting starts at 7 pm, in case you don’t want to join us for supper. 

 This is another example of Tyndall Horizons, helped greatly by Kari at SDSU Extension Services, providing an informational forum to raise awareness of this issue.  It also shows a community mobilizing to address the issue of the many faces of poverty.  The public policy committee has been a leader and instrumental in the organization of this forum-an example of community structural change as we did not have something like this before. It is also a committee that will need to be active in the future, as policies change and information made available. 

  New members to the committee are welcomed. Come and check it out.    Hope to see you at the forum. Do you have concerns about policies now in place that affect the low incomes?  Leave a comment here.

After almost 7 months of waiting, Cavalier Corner has obtained its tax exempt status!  The formal letter from the IRS came on Thursday to inform the board that our application had been approved under section 501(c)(3).  A special thank you goes to Lisa Rothschadl for her hard work in getting all of the paper work filled out and filed.

Wow, what alot of good opportunity to learn from other towns and cities.  Justin Wagner and I delivered a power point presentation explaining the Tyndall Horizon projects at the MidState Conference at South Sioux City, NE .  Although we  presented at the conference , we came away with many useful ideas and encouragement. There were many good presenters and wide varity of ideas or new approaches to the same problems.

The structural changes I have noticed in the last year in Tyndall is 5 new businesses on Main Street.  We have added a new cafe, 2 businesses which sell memorials, a resale shop and a youth center.  These new businesses deal with a wide scope of people from senior citizens to youth and allow for the people of the community to stay in town for their needs.

What would the residents of Tyndall and the members of the business community like to see in new small businesses on Main Street or on the highway? Do we want to have more business on the highway, or do we want to concentrate on downtown? We have a couple of “holes ” on main street that we can fill up. We know we have a low-income housing issue - got any ideas on that ( maybe employing our local contractors ?) Do we know an alumni or former resident who would love to relocate to a smaller business community? Our Horizons committees have worked hard the past two years-since August of 2006- to come up with improvements. We greatly appreciate those of you who have participated in the meetings and planning sessions and shared your ideas, but we could use more. Our economic future depends on your entrepreneurial bravery!!!! If you have an idea or opinion, leave a comment here!

I recently attended the workshop in Tripp covering entrepreneurship and economic development, facilitated by Horizon’s Carla Trautman and Keri Freuchte. The speakers were from the SDSU economics department-Dr. Larry Swain ( entrepreneur) and Dr. Jerry Warmann ( Economics Department). Dr. Swain talked about co-ops, co-ordinating with other communities on an idea for enterprise, and combining businesses ( partnerships ! ) We have heard a lot about partnerships in our months of Horizons meetings. It is important! And we found out that we already partner alot already when we were not even aware of it! ( For example, some businesses partner on advertising ) Are we partnering with low incomes in mind? Yes-Tyndall is leading the way as our new youth center and the bargain shoppe are partners with success. What other ways can you think of that we are partnering with poverty issues in mind. Comment here at this posting!

Tyndall’s next Horizon meeting will be Tuesday, March 11 at 7:00 PM at the Cavalier Center.  Keep working on your projects

Greg Gemar of Gemar’s Market is presenting Janet Wagner of the Cavalier Corner a check for $500 to match a business donation for the Youth Center. Janet and Greg are also working out a partnership to start selling Hot Stuff pizzas at the center. Greg  is working on a pizza size which would work well for the kids as a 12″ is too large and a 6″ is smaller then we want. He is working with different dough ball sizes to find a pizza size which would work for the Center.

More community support for the Cavalier Corner!  Jim Koenig of Koenig Insurance has put a challenge out to the local business community to support the Youth Center.  Jim will match dollar for dollar each money that the local businesses donate to the Youth Center up to $10,000!  It will be $2,000  a year for 5 years and we will be able to use the donations which were given to start the project.  Jim Koenig is shown in the picture presenting Janet Wagner with the first $2,000 donation.

I am looking for information or input on putting a Boys and Girls Club in Tyndall.  If you have any information about the ups and downs of the organization would you please let me know.  I can be reached either by the blog or 589-3097 evenings or 589-3387 daytime.