Purpose: Sustain the vision of building prosperity, reducing poverty – keep the “fire alive”- and coordinate Work Team activities in the community.
Vision: Welcome to Pine City where people live, work and play. Our beautiful city offers many recreational choices, community events and an active arts community. Youth are healthy, active and drug-free and a part of a positive multi-generational culture. Energy is renewable & sustainable. We welcome change that makes our community better and we welcome you to visit or stay and live here with us.
Present: Cyndy Cohen, Kris Engh, Jenny Erdmann, Marcia Howard, Lezlie Sauter, Jennifer Peterson.
Absent: Kayla Defenbaugh, Kathy Doenz, Becky Maki, Jan Nettleton, Sydney Rydberg, Becky Schueller.
Learning About…..Aha! Speaking On Poverty
Lezlie shared some information from a training she received about poverty at Lakes and Pines. The speaker shared some insights on what some of the causes are that bring families and individuals into poverty. Some examples were; an accident, lack of resources, death or divorce, loss of a job. Lezlie said there was a phrase that caught her attention. “If you choose to do this, than you have chosen to do this” the trainer said that for it to be effective you would need to state it in 3 different ways during your conversation. The phrase is meant to make it clear to the individual that the choice is theirs.
January Meeting minutes: Approved
Work Team Reports (Activity since last meeting)
• Everything Pine City: Lezlie reported that on March 25th at the Pine City Country Club from 5:30 to 6:30 the Everything Pine City Team will be hosting a “Come Network With Us” Event. There will be appetizers and a cash bar. This is an opportunity for the organizations of Pine City to get their information into the area information guide. Each group will have the opportunity to give a 2 minute commercial about their organization, anything from fundraising events to boosting membership. Mike Gainor from the Pioneer is going to put an ad in the paper. Some discussion was also had on the Kiosk the EPC team is working on. Cyndy suggested that the team should apply for the ECE Round Up Grant, that this is typical of the type of projects that ECE likes to be involved with.
• Looking Forward – Youth: Cyndy reported that a Tool Kit has been provided for the Before & After School Program from The Youth Works Institute. Any supplies that the group would like should be requested prior to March 31st. It would be considered “Technical Assistance” and could be obtained from the Horizons program at no cost. It was also suggested that the LFY team host an “Outdoor Event” for a mentoring program in the Pine City area.
• People Helping People: Kris reported that in January the People Helping People team and Evergreen Church started the Angels Food Program. For the month of January approximately 30 orders were placed. As of the 15th of February 54 orders had been placed without the additional orders that they will be getting from some of the senior living housing. The deadline is February 18th by 11:00 am.
On March 4th from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm at the Pine City Community Room the PHP team will be holding a forum to “Develop a Homelessness Task Force”. Those who have been invited to attend; Liz Kuoppala; Executive Director of MN Coalition for the Homeless, Dawn Beseman; Lakes and Pines, Life House, Central MN Housing, New Pathways in Cambridge, Julie Werner; Pine City Food Shelf, Mike Gainor from the Pioneer.
• Pine City Prospers: Marcia reported that the PCP team participated in a Conference Call with 3 groups to gain information on an Emergency Loan/Grant Program. Those that participated in the conference call were; Bruce Campbell, Good Samaritan Fund Director; Greg Werner of the Western Area Community Action Council; Christine Reis, Pine Tech Employment & Training. Topic of discussion was how to start up an Emergency Loan/Grant Program in the Pine City area.
Fiscal Agent
Our Fiscal Agent has still not been determined. The Pregnancy Resource Center is still discussing if they want to be Fiscal Agent. It was proposed by the Horizon Work Team that we get on the Pine County Board agenda to see if they would be willing to be the Fiscal Agent. Lezlie asked for other members of the HWT to join her so as to alleviate some confusion between her work relationship and the Pine City Horizons program. Lezlie, Cyndy and Kris will present to PC Board.
Americorps VISTA, Round 2?
Lezlie, Marcia and Cyndy submitted the Initial Inquiry to the Initiative Foundation on February 5th and were successful. We received an invitation to submit a full application by February 26th. It was suggested that we partner with The City of Pine City for a full time (shared) Vista. Discussion was had regarding the costs associated with a shared Vista. Some expenses discussed were mileage, computer, office space and training. The shared Vista will work for The City of Pine City and the Pine City Horizons Program. The thought is that since the Vista will office with The City at the courthouse that Nathan Johnson would be the direct supervisor. Marcia will contact Nathan from the city to discuss the above. Some of the functions that the Vista will do for the PCH could be: developing an emergency loan program, build capacity to deal with homelessness & emergency housing, coordinate basic needs classes & conduct research on many of our long term goals. This position would be available at no cost for one year, but could last for three years with a slight cost each year after the first one.
Blog Site Update
Jennifer is requesting training for some of the newly licensed bloggers. The date for that training will be March 18th. If you have information you want to put on the blog site send an email to duskwindfarm@gmail.com
Cluster Event
It was discussed that the Cluster Event be postponed due to the excess of projects that we are working on.
Other Business:
Horizons Advertising bill with the Pioneer
Becky Maki paid the $190.00 advertising bill with the Pioneer out of the Community Ed Fund.
“Closing Event”
A Horizon “Closing Event” will be held at the St. Cloud Civic Center on Saturday, April 24th. The invitation will be extended to current and alumni horizon communities.
**Tabled for the next meeting (entire agenda was not covered due to time constraints):
• 501C3 discussion
Next Meeting will be Monday March 15th, 2010 at 5pm at (not determined yet, will notify at a later date)
Meeting adjourned at 6:30 pm.
