Tyndall, SD

A committee of mostly new volunteers, but spearheaded by Horizons leader and school teacher Chad Jodozi, is working on a new daycare facility for the town. We have had a couple of daycares discontinue, so this committee is making a gigantic effort to provide additional daycare to the already great daycare providers we have left. We all know that if we want our towns to stabilize and maybe grow, we have to have daycare for the families with both parents working full-time out of the home. This is essential. There are some worried individuals that think that this new facility will take business away from the other daycares but we have to provide adequate spaces. The city has been working with the group and is offering their full support. This facility will provide one more full-time job and some part-time jobs to the community.

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

This Saturday, April 5 join us at the Open House at the Bargain Shoppe in Tyndall!  We will be open from 10-5 and serving up some great bargains. We are now taking spring and summer items-all must be clean and in working order.  Make an appointment to drop off or stop by when open.  589-3955.  Run by ALL VOLUNTEERS, the Bargain Shoppe is an example of people leading the way, sustained by interested shoppers and volunteers.  If anything, it will outgrow its current location, as it will only improve.  It has shown to be a needed shop in town. Also, all monies are donated back into the community after expenses.  Stop by!

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.

It is hard to get a handle on how the reduction of poverty is going in our community, especially with the economic atmosphere of our country. But we have been monitoring the number of students who are receiving free and reduced lunches at school, checking with the food pantry for numbers of participation-new or increased use by the same families and talking to personal who deal with poverty such as clergy, police, and family services staff.

When we started to really deal with what is causing the poverty in our area we realized, probably against our willingness, that partnerships must be established.  With several of the projects which have been started, the partnership was slow in coming.  People, in general, are afraid to move away from their comfort zones and get involved in a much larger scope.  The past month it has been very exciting and interesting to see the cooperation with other groups and organizations from the surrounding committees.  Although several projects are in the conception stage, there is a light on at the end of the tunnel to develope some more jobs to keep people in all of our communities.

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.

Members of our planning team met with our coach Dave Olson on Jan. 8 and reported the progress of our seven goals we chose to work on for the improvement of Tyndall. He had lots of good ideas and new information on workshops coming up that will help us. Watch for them in the Tyndall Tribune.

Our seven goals are: To create a community foundation, to develop the Tyndall Bargain Shoppe, to influence public policy in SD to reduce poverty, to develop and maintain the Tyndall website- tyndallsd.com, to develop the Cavalier Corner Youth Center, to determine the feasiblility of hiring a community coordinator, to provide a LeadershipPlenty program for High School Students.

Lots to work on? You bet. The committees are working hard, even though all members have jobs and lots on their plates.

The Cavalier Corner is doing well and the students are enjoying the facilities. Ask about renting the space for a party. The board is working hard to secure more funding.

The Bargain Shoppe is doing well, also, with an all volunteer staff-that is incredible. The store is clean and well displayed, and donations continue to come in. They could use more infants and childrens clothing-clean and in good condition. Getting the word out is the key now. They can also use more volunteers to work on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday.

The public policy committee has been compiling information that will be of benefit to those needing food and housing assistance. Be looking for that.

The community foundation committee has presented a “round - up plan” to the city council and the city staff is checking into that-some software issues right now but it looks good. ( Watch for press releases on that too)

The community coordinator committee has some objectives to work on. They will be doing a feasibility study. This is not something you just jump into. It is working in some of our Horizons towns so it is possible.

The website committee is also working hard. Almost all of the pages have been designed and will soon be online.  You can check the progress now by going to www.tyndallsd.com.

We need and can use your comments on these goals. Is Tyndall on the right track? Just go to the bottom of this post and click on comments and sign in. It’s harmless!

“How does the community plan to make sure the entire community supports its plans and actions to reduce poverty? How is poverty reduction addressed in our Community Plan?” These are questions we have been asked by our Horizons team to address.

I am not sure we can MAKE the community do anything. I think we can only offer changes and improvements and promote them to the benefit of the community. Getting the word out is the biggest factor. Regular news articles have been put in the local paper, but if people don’t read the paper, you are getting nowhere! Our parents and schools have to teach children to become involved in their town, read about it, and volunteer to help others. Also, we teach by example: if we help others, our kids see that and they will do the same when they reach adulthood.

The reduction of poverty has been addressed in our community plan in the form of several goals: The public policy committee will be looking at legislation that is affecting our low income residents, the Cavalier Corner offers free access to entertainment and study opportunity in the computer lab, the Bargain Shoppe will be dispensing funds out to local charity after their expenses are paid ( stop in and shop!), and the Community Round-up Program which is just beginning to be talked about, will benefit all and will be an easy way for all residents to give to the local projects. The committee will be meeting with the city council on January 7.