Anyone interested in obtaining daycare for their children should attend a meeting Thursday night, May 1 at 7:00 PM at the Cavalier Corner. Chad Jodozi will be discussing the surveys which were sent out to all current day care providers, local businesses, and letters to the local people by the school banner. A needs assessment is being determined and your input would be appreciated. Everyone is invited to attend.
Farm families who have experienced a major injury or illness may apply for planting assistance of up to 1,000 acres free of charge. If you know of any family who is in this situation, please forward this information. For more information you may contact Farm Rescue or call 701-252-2017. Email address is www.farmrescue.org
Committee members and 2 guests met at the Cavalier Corner, with Dave Olson present on April 8th. Shirley Mann, director at the Bon Homme Food Pantry, reported on her role and the purpose of the pantry, its supporters and its present needs. It has been in existence for 17 years and she has worked with the program for 14 years! Presently they serve 40 - 45 families in Bon Homme County, who have been recommended by Social Services, a minister, or a doctor as per the guidelines. She and her helper Pat and other volunteers prepare 50 commodity boxes once a month also. They get $1000 from the state once a year and the rest of the year are solely dependent on food and cash donations. It gets pretty scarce from May to November……ideas anyone?
Day care has become a concern, or the impending lack of it actually….. A new goal in our strategic plan has been identified, according to Chad Jodozi, and a committee is now working with the Governor’s office (Governor’s Day Care) on this issue. They are required to do surveys of our present daycares (which parents are very grateful for!), along with a bunch of other hoops to jump through. Of course, funding is a key component. More to come on this new goal. Our young parents are the future of Tyndall-we owe them our support!
The Bargain Shoppe didn’t meet yet this month, but are planning to donate funds to a project in town, after expenses. They did $100 business on the Open House day! How cool is that? They have added a day to be open….now open Wednesday through Saturday from 10 - 5. Now taking spring/summer items, and they have also been selling appliances, furniture and big things like that in addition to the regular items.
The website committee will meet next week on the 17th. Things are going a little slow right now, but our volunteers have been busy with regular jobs. Businesses and residents with events to share can have them posted on the website community calendar. Go to www.tyndallsd.com - click on community calendar. School events continue to be listed on their own website.
The public policy committee, Mark and Joe, has set up a public forum for April 16th on tax issues, low income issues, etc….there will be free blood pressure screenings by the hospital ( glad to have them participate!!!) and a guest panel to answer questions. Cathy Brechtelsbauer from Bread for the World will be the speaker. For the free supper you need to call asap by the 12th to Mark 589-3097 for food count for you and guests. Open to all and important for all!
The Cavalier Corner is going along smoothly at this time. The board is looking into setting up a GED program. There is a tutoring program is place, but up to now the students are not taking advantage of this. More education on this is probably necessary, as many parents and students may not know about it. Dave offered the board the possibility of a meeting to help them plan a 5-year strategic plan.
The Community Foundation committee has taken a back seat this month to some other things that popped up over Easter vacation ( like a light manufacturing plant looking at Tyndall and other communities!) so they will get a date set for a public meeting, etc. soon.
LeadershipPlenty training is hopefully going to be offered for credit in the fall. Janet is still working with administration on that. There are two certified trainers in our school system to do the course and it would be just for upper class students.
The committee for Community Economic Coordinator has not met. Judy is hoping to seat a feasibility study committee to research this more. The planning committee members urged the importance of this committee for the future of Tyndall. Persons interested in serving on this can contact her asap.
Marilyn reported briefly on the Marketing Workshop and how communities have begun to “brand ” themselves to claim a uniqueness about their community that would attract business, shopping, and new residents.
Dave urged members to continue blogging and to recruit “commentors” and even more bloggers. He had helpful suggestions throughout the meeting and has been a great help to our committees.
The next meeting will be May 13th - same time, same place!
Volunteering a few shifts at the Bargain Shoppe (located next to the Cavalier Center on Main street Tyndall) the past couple of months has proven to be a great experience!
Each time I have volunteered, I have been pleasantly surprised by the “new treasures” that appear. I have noticed other “new treasures” from the previous volunteer shift that have found new homes. It IS true: “One man’s/(woman’s) trash/(more than likely a result of a spring cleaning effort) is another’s treasure”!! I have seen this adage verified by the flow of items through the Bargain Shoppe.
While having certain responsibilities when volunteering at the Bargain Shoppe, there are certainly ‘perks’ as well. For example one can scope the shelves of kitchenware and household items. One can investigate the titles and genres in the book shelves as well. It can be noted the “Spring is in the air’ when straightening and placing clothing items on the racks in the center of the store and on the walls rack as one notices more of the light spring/summer style of clothing that is arriving. I have been happy to place a few maternity clothing items, as well as baby items on the shelves as well this past week. (Need a car seat that stays in YOUR vehicle for that new grandchild, niece, or nephew? Yes, we have some!) Oh…don’t forget to let the kids explore the toy bins. Kids are wonderful little explorers who seem to find treasures buried in the bin that one would not notice at first glance…..Just try it! I have also noticed an assortment of children’s books as well, along with a couple of puzzles boxes and ….Paper dolls! (Remember playing with paper dolls as children? Remember how much fun it was to use our imagination?) I’ve also seen a few CD’s, a CD case and children’s videos from time to time.
Kudos to the person(s) responsible for hanging the wall racks for clothing. It certainly is an asset to the space challenged Shoppe. My thanks to Nelson Stone for his carpentry skills when the free arm hanging dress/curtain racks fell from the wall last Friday.(Who said vounteering was ever boring?) We also have acquired an ironing board, iron , and water spray bottle for providing a little TLC to items that may have had a difficult transit to the Shoppe.
Another ‘perk’ when volunteering at the bargain Shoppe are the wonderful people you meet and greet as they come through the door! I have been privileged to meet and greet both new people (to me anyway) as well as re-acquaint with familiar faces. How Wonderful! As you can see, not all of the “treasures” are found on shelves or racks when one is volunteering at the Bargain Shoppe!
I encourage anyone and everyone to volunteer a shift or a few hours here and there at the bargain Shoppe or stop by to see what is new to you. (I may be what’s new to you…who knows?) I have certainly found my experience to be: Challenging(I’ve never taken a bookkeeping course/barely balance my checkbook, so find much joy when columns of numbers equal the amount of cash in the till), Creative(arranging a temporary home in the Shoppe for items donated), Soothing and Peaceful(the rhythm of the pace is pleasantly different from my job as an ICU nurse), Exciting(remember the racks which fell), and Wonderful(whether I meet you for the millionth time or for the first time)
Come and explore the treasures to be found at the Bargain Shoppe both as a volunteer and an explorer!!
jeannieb.
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.
How has community leadership expanded since we began Horizons and are more people in the community involved in leadership positions? These are some questions we have been asked to address and we would like some comments from all out there!
Are we training new leaders ? There is a project being researched right now about teaching LeadershipPlenty to our juniors and seniors at Bon Homme High School. I can tell you that this would not be happening at all if we had not participated in the Horizons project. We have certified leadership trainers now in our community that are able to do this. Do you think this is a good idea? Post your comments and tell us what you think.
There are some seats open on city council in Tyndall. Do you know who the councilmen are? If you are happy with your present Mayor, councilmen and women, please give them a call and support them for another term! If you are not, consider running for the seat in your ward. If you don’t know what ward you live in, go to the city office and ask for a map.
How do you think leadership skills have changed or been enhanced in our community since Tyndall participated in LeadershipPlenty? Over 30 residents took part in this course this past summer. Let us know what you think. Go to the bottom right of this post and click on “no comments” or ” # of comments” and post your comment!
Through the Horizons program it was noted that our community needed an information pamphlet to guide newcomers and the regular longtime residents to our businesses and services. The Chamber had already produced one, so it was suggested that it be updated and a couple more things added, like services available at Social Services. The pamphlet is being designed and with the Horizons Planning Committee and Chamber approval, it will be out soon to be put in our Welcome Baskets and shared with the business community and also put out in other towns.
Our director at Dakota Senior Meals has participated in a couple of the Horizon events (Leadership Plenty and Grant Writing ) and since then has been writing some fantastic columns in our local paper addressing senior’s health and well-being, taking advantage of the lunch services at Dakota Senior Meals ( only $3.00 if you are over 60 and anyone can eat there!) and, in general, addressing the importance of community involvement and helping each other out. If you want to read a great one, this week’s is on learning about our family’s heritage and our community’s heritage by visiting with the elders in the community.