Conde, SD

The Horizons II program may be winding down but that hasn’t stopped the momentum here in Conde. A successful breadbaking and bead bracelet workshop was held Monday, June 19th with several youngsters taking home a loaf of homemade bread and many enjoying the art of making bead bracelets and necklaces. We are still working with the Conde City on improvements to the city park. Several women gathered in the evenings to donate time and talent to do some painting there and we hope that the new slide is installed soon. Our hardworking group with the help of others, have planned and prepared an area for the delivery of our stone welcome sign. We hope to have this project completed in time for guests coming to town for the Conde High All-school reunion. Another workshop is to be help on the 23rd for beginning wordworking and sewing. We will soon be planning for our graduation and an August “Fall Festival”. We hope to keep up the enthusiasm and inspire more citizens to join in the fun!!

In reference to category 8, question: what structural changes have been made in how the community does it’s work/makes decisions? I don’t know if this would be considered structural but I believe we have started to include people in some projects that would normally not get involved. This is important in creating substantial changes as the same few people cannot do it all. We have obtained the help of a local young man to set up a web site for Conde, by involving him in this we may stir up his community interest and involvement. The same goes for city wide cleanup committees. The more “new ” people we get involved the more new ideas we may acquire. If we involve them in planning and decision making they will be more interested in helping.

In answer to “What is your communities plan to maintaining a strong community leadership?” I believe by working together with the city council and Civic Development Organization and our youth we can maintain leadership. We must continue to support one another in events, activities and projects. We must keep encouraging each other that we can accomplish our goals if we stay positive and not let the negativity get us down. We shall continue to develop more interest in our community organizations by inviting and encouraging fellow citizens to take part. By including the youth in our projects and decision making we can hopefully raise some future strong leaders for Conde.

Thank You so much to Horizons for the opportunity to attend the SD Governor’s Conference on Economic Development! The two day Seminar was held in Pierre on Tuesday and Wednesday, April 8th and 9th.

It was awesome to mingle with all the fine speakers (and one of the first questions asked was “and how big is your community?” They made us all feel welcome and said that no matter the size, all communities were important.

It certainly gave this old lady alot of food for thought in the fact that if they do close the school we may just have the open door to the door that might close. They stressed how important our City Web Site is and upon returning home we have sped to action to take care of that.

It was most enlightning to visit with other Horizons communities and to see so many bright young people handling such important issues for our state. The speakers gave very useful information and I don’t know when I have attended such a relaxed, personable and professional conference.

It was pretty hard to put two full days into an update e-mail to our Horizons committee upon return home but I tried, only after my “brain dead” feeling had expired and it all started to soak in. I certainly learned alot and will share it all between now and our next Horizons meeting which will be on the 24th of February at 4:00 at the Conde Community Center.

Saturday, April 26th a Mentoring workshop will be held in Conde at the Community Center for all adults that wish to attend. Sign up is requested and contacting Bev Wright at (605-897-6536) will get you a fun day, a meal and $25.00 for yourself or your favorite organization.

The mentoring workshop is possible through a grant awarded to our Field Education Unit. Since mentoring was one of the projects Conde Horizons is working on, our town was chosen for the workshop.

The Extension Educators will be covering the following topics: 1.Community Service as part of your Youth/Mentorship Program. 2.Civic Engagement - Encouraging Civic-Minded Youth. 3.Positive Youth Development. 4.Program/Mentorship Management. 5. Positive Guidance & Discipline. 6.Parents as Parners. 6.What if bullying issues come up.

Come join us!

The weather was a mixed bag but Mother Nature must have known that Conde really needed the seminar. We had a crowd with at least 6 new people coming from our small town.

There was wonderful information given and we sure found out that “branding” isn’t just for cows! We will have to work on our brand for Conde that will continue to boast our slogan, “Conde, a place to call home.”

It is beyond a doubt left the town in a depressed state to think that the school closing may get to a reality. There will be an informational meeting on Wednesday, the 16th at 7:00 at the school; all interested poeple should try to attend.

If the school should close Conde will be devistated! The many families being affected with loosing their jobs, kids having to travel so far to another school will lead to the possiblity of moving from our community. Therefore, we need the training of knowing how to Market what we have and the possibilities there might be for employment with new jobs here and elsewhere. That is why it was so enlightning to have so many interested in the seminar on Marketing. We are coming together and thanks to all who have shown interest in the program. Horizons could not have come at a better time! We are looking into the possibility of more housing, possibly some tax relief and have many ideas of contacting businesses in other towns for people who may need jobs. We have been told that the best place to star gaze in the whole state is north of Conde as it has a stretch that is void of fabricated light; wind energy is being looked into as is the expanding of our already well established hunting opportunities in the community.

In what ways is our community operating or working differently? The biggest thing is that people are starting to talk and wanting to work together. We are very fortunate to have a new Conde housing development owner from Aberdeen who has been most helpful in our endeavors for Horizons. His law degree backgound has been most helpful and we are so thankful for his genuine interest.

One of the structures that is being created is the pride for the town. We have, as an example, the mini golf course to be repaired. We are really working on ways to create responsibility for the privilege of having something like this in town. This spring we will again have our clean-up day and with the anticipation of the All School Reunion in June, we have a deadline to meet and that will keep us focused.

Last summer some of Conde’s streets were decorated in red. Thanks to Horizons and the Northeast Area Foundation, residents and visitors are greeted with red street banners to welcome them to town. Several of the banners were removed to hang Christmas decorations but will soon be replaced and lining main street again. Thanks to the volunteers for hanging the banners and for use of equipment. Thanks Horizons for bringing a little “color” to town.

The Conde Horizons II team has set the last Thursday of every month to meet with Cheryl Jacobs to make sure that we are making progress, “walking the plank” so to speak to make sure our vision is coming to fruition. Our meetings will begin at 4:00 in the afternoon and will be held at the Community Center. Our first meeting with Cheryl will be held February 28th. Everyone is invited and more information will be coming as the date gets closer.