Monthly Minutes of Advisory Group
Meeting on Wednesday June 13, 2012
Singing Hills Coffee Shop
Meeting called to order by Cindy Kennedy, Chair.
In attendance: Diane Munson, Lynne Coleman, Jane Cummiskey
Guest: Jennifer Nelson, SMIF
Jennifer Nelson from SMIF was introduced. She attended the meeting to get an update on all of our projects and an update on the Sakatah Foundation funds. Jennifer provided information on the two upcoming grant opportunities with SMIF starting July 1, 2012 . One is the annual matching grant by SMIF of up to $5,000 for a project either in the Early Child Hood initiatives category or the Entrepreneurial or small business category. Last year this is the grant Kim received for HeLP project. The second opportunity is for a $5,000 match for every $10,000 that WCC raises for their foundation. The funds we have in the Sakatah Foundation would provide this $10,000 and a $5,000 match for our general WCC fund. Jane will get in touch with Jim Hansen to get this issue settled once and for all. Both Horizons Communities could benefit from this transfer of funds.
Jennifer had to leave – we thanked her for coming and for all her encouragement of our projects.
The fiscal report was reviewed and it is evident that we have to come up with some fundraising ideas in the next year.
Diane from Friends of the Library gave an update on all of the projects that the library is starting. Examples are Dads and Donuts for Father’s Day, Summer Reading Program, Teen Groups, Puppeteers on July 17th, Reading Challenge. The Chili Cook Off planning is underway with the group deciding on the Green Bay vs. Vikings or Lions or Bears games this fall. Saturday library hours are proving to be successful so far. Counts are being taken of the adults and kids coming in on Saturdays. The new carpet is nice and several new patrons are coming into the library. Setting up a booth at Bullhead Days did not have the interest or the book sales that they anticipated. It was hard to get volunteers to work the booth. There needs to be discussion on this before next year.
Kathy Kerekes gave an update on the Sakatah Arts Experience scheduled for August 11th from to . Jeff worked on the logo and flyers were printed and handed out during Bullhead Days and to area businesses. Entertainment this year includes the popular Belly Dancers; Zack Benson Band; John Hiscock and Chance Meeting; local Singer, Carissa Pelant-Nygaard singing an Italian Aria; the WEM School drum line; Christa Bauman and the Suzuki Band; Martial Arts group from Elysian; Emma Mae Spring – singer and guitar player; Jeff Pridie, HS Art teacher with art demonstrations.
Food vendors include Gilligans, Swans Truck, Shenelle Lemonade, Kettle Corn, Singing Hills with sandwiches. No replies so far from Kaplan Elk Farm, Indian Creek Winery and the Cheese Factory. There will be a local artist’s tent, a juried expedition with a cash prize, crafters, face painting. There will be 4 tents this year. The Children’s area could include Tina Tonn with tie dying, Nicole Volk with kites, a weaving class, dress-up area, art easel, sidewalk paint. A grant was received from the Prairie Arts Council to cover some of the costs. More funds are being raised. A complete budget will be sent for review.
The Downtown Beautification group reported on the flowers. They survived another Bullhead Days event. Cleota, Arlis, Jo, and Pat are dead heading on Thursdays and reported that the job is easier this year because of the choice of flowers. The ivy in the planters was a great choice this year. Watering by Bob at the City continues during the week with a work crew from Potential Unlimited watering on Tuesdays and late Friday afternoons. Kathy D and Jane C have signed up for weekends in June, July and August. Don and Darlene Jacobson stopped into the office and offered to sign up for one weekend a month. Don will be getting a lesson from Bob on using the City watering tractor and wagon as he will be filling in for Bob when he goes on vacation from June 28th to July 5th. We are trying to recruit three more couples to take a weekend in July, August and September. The bill for the Flowers was $740 and $200 was received from the Chamber Wine-Tasting event and $739 was received from the Lions Club. Approval was given to pay the bill since all of the funds were raised to cover the cost. We will pay Potential Unlimited for watering and the bill for May was $18.00.
An update was given on the HeLP/WLCO project. The new name WLCO stands for Waterville Local Cooperative Outlet. They received $750 from Kim and $1,750 from the Lions Club to get the project started. They have all of their own tax identification numbers and will spin off from the WCC. Karen Bauer is the Chair, Pat Kelm is the Treasurer and Jane Mittlestadt is the Board Member. They have a signed lease in place with the Singing Hills Coffee Shop, lease documents for the artists, signage on the window at the Coffee Shop and systems in place to get the business in operation.
Lynne Coleman has a Bike Repair/Rental project that she would like to have considered for SMIF matching fund in July. This project would fit into the Entrepreneurial category. She will send the proposal to Jane to work on a budget to be submitted. The City funded $1,000 of the Summer Reading Program. Lynne will submit the proposal to the group for review.
Cindy suggested that we focus on three fundraisers this year. A Garden Walk, Christmas Walk and the Luminaries around the Sakatah Bay
Next meeting was set for July 2nd at Singing Hills.
Meeting adjourned at .
Submitted by Jane Cummiskey in place for Karen Bauer.
