Congratulations to Edith and the rest of the planning crew for organizing a successful clean-up day, we had some great volunteers. It is very inspiring to see community members of all ages working together. Also thanks to the ladies who prepared lunch. The afternoon proved to show community pride and I believe several city residents have acquired the clean-up fever. Keep it up Conde- you’re looking good.
Hello everyone! It is about time the grey haired old lady gets on board again to tell you of some of the activities. Believe the last time I was “on” I was highlighting the Mentoring workshop we were hosting. Well, snow cancellation and trying to pick other dates we did host it on May 4th…a Sunday and that kept several away but we had a good turnout. Our Extension Educator did an excellent job with the theme of “Tools for the Trade.” She had all of her tools on hand for table decorations, wore her tool belt that she conveniently used the pockets for cards for the program. We learned about Community Service as part of our program, civic engagement in how to get our children to be civic minded youth, positive youth development, program mentorship managment, positive guidance and discipline, parent as partners and what if bullying come up. The 5 to 6 hour seminar is not finished as we were all given a disc to have follow up and then upon completion we will each receive $25.00 for our organization or the new hat we couldn’t wait to purchase!!! We learned the difference between tattling and reporting, we worked in groups of the tools of the trade we were given in our packets. One of my favorite things was the parent backpacks. Wouldn’t it be fun to be able to leave the hospital with a new baby with a back pack of information on parenting skills, family activities, support and the list could just go on and on.
We will get into mentoring as we start summer activities for the children of the community. We have had a nice sign up for beginning woodworking, bread baking, making a beaded bracelet, beginning sewing and working with our pizza garden. We need to keep children busy and learning life skills that they can enjoy and make something with pride will give them some self esteem and maybe become entrepreneurs as we need to have a market for our hunters when they come in and what better way than to have the children of the community have things to sell. It should be a good summer of learning and fun. We have touched on a whole new segment of people who are so glad to help with the projects, too.
How will your community make decisions aboout seeking further resources to support it’s plan?
We as a community must continue to work with city leaders and employees with city projects. The permission of the city for some of our ideas should be acquired as they have local control, and access to city/state resources. They must be involved in some decision making. We should also include other area organizations as they too may have access to resources that we do not have. By including others in decision making we encourage more interest and opportunity.
Thanks Northeast Area Foundation and Horizons II for providing Conde with the opportunity to host the ” Marketing Your Area” seminar with Milan Wall. His presentation was very enjoyable and eduacational. I think there were several of us that went home that night with a renewed sense of hope that the community can survive without our school. Thanks to the ladies who prepared and served the meal and to all those who attended. If we continue to stick together and work toward a common goal we will always be ” a place to call home.”
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.
One of the biggest adversities we have found is that “it has always been done that way….” that has led us to a path of “getting by,” “uncertainty” and “non-progressive.” Now you throw that in with the possiblity of the school closing and the mood is very down and sullen. It is almost like we have given up! However, when one door closes, another opens. We have had such wonderful groups, young and old, probably rich but more than likely poorer than rich be continuous backers for the Horizons training and supportive for the activities. We had to forge ahead with the park project despite claims that insurance would not allow it. The insurance company has been contacted and will be with us to “fix” if necessary the old slide in the park and to help instruct for the setting up of the new slide that was purchased with Horizons and partnership of the city. What a wonderful partnership this will be as we have the Young Men’s club very willing to help and two good farmer welders that will be more than happy to help in any way they can. These are volunteers we had not thought about tapping and you don’t know until you ask!!! Now when spring comes we can go forth with renewed conviction that even old things can become new and new things can be done right with the help of the right people! Safety of the children is of utmost importance in park equipment. We solicited other information from Watertown Park and Recreation Office, met with the city council and contacted the afore mentioned people. Now, when Mother Nature lets spring “spring” we will be busy at the park!
The Study Circles set us up and we didn’t know how much we needed it until it hit us in the face! The School chosen to close because we didn’t have 100 students, even though we receive no state aid! Last spring it brought us to action to be informed, letter writing took place to our Legislators and Governor. This fall the action was still there, Legislators again visited, trips to Pierre, more trips to Pierre, students, teachers and patrons giving testimony. Every type of emotion has taken place in our lives; so what is poverty? It is the uncertainty of an unstable future, however with our community action we have all become much stronger in our conviction to be better informed, we know we CAN make a difference and we are trying to be uplifting to each other in trying to hold on to our school. It was so true in the study circles when we learned that poverty is MORE than money! We still do not know our true destiny but it has been a very educational process for the whole community, it has kept us together, talking and taking action together. We will be proof of the old adage that we will have the ability to face if one door closes, another will open.
The Noetlich family of Doland stood in awe of the gifts from the community that were delivered just one week ago tonight. They had lost EVERYTHING in a house fire on a minus 24 degree night in January. Horizons had provided the seed of laundry basket and essentials and the community filled it to more than over flowing. It was, indeed, a Happy Valentines day for the family and a Valentines Day they will remember!
Conde Horizons II will sponsor a non perishable shower for the Noetlich family that lost everything in a house fire of their home near Doland. Non-perishable items can be brought to the collection point at the Plains Commerce Bank in Conde and will be delivered to the Noetlich family on Valentines Day. No outdated or used items, please.
OK, picture this: one quart glass jar layered with ingredients, a pretty fabric circle held in place with the ring lid, WITH the following explanation. Brownie ingredients with the explanation.
Flour, baking powder, salt. The foundation for brownie mix is dry ingredients. The foundation of Horizons II is to find leadership within ourselves. We are all different and we all have different attributes and we all can do something well.
White sugar: Sugar adds sweetness to the brownies. The “sweet” thing about our community is that we have Horizons II help us identify our community assets.
Brown sugar: When Measured, brown sugar sticks together, it packs well. This is how it can be with groups within our community, awarded through Horizons II, we have been able to measure our activities and results.
Walnuts: We can get along without nuts in our brownies but they are necessary for a complete product. Meetings can be worked well when we have an agenda, things are talked about and we get to the bottom of any conflict.
Chocolate Chips: Chocolate Chips add so much to our product, just as managing conflict helps us focus on the issues and get things done. When we know how to manage conflict, it just adds so much to our work just as chocolate chips add so much to our brownies.
The cover: The ingredients won’t hold together in the jar until we really need them witout a cover, just as building strategies will help us work together to get the job done. You can’t do it all yourself and there are plenty of people and support to help.
Decorative Fabric: this is the real attraction, the attention getter that makes us feel we are getting close to the finished product; a finished product that comes with planning.
Instruction Tag: We are looking to make this product work so we plan and evaluate to make sure we have instructions to guide us.
Other Ingredients: There are the final components in our plan for a complete product that we all can enjoy. Other ingredients of people, planning and communication to others in what we are doing for a successful commitment with support from Horizons II. YOU are the integral part of this to take action for Conde and for it to be the best that it can be!
The jars were placed around town for all to see and help with the explanation of Horizons II.