The Waterville Community Connections Steering Committee met at 10:00 a.m. on Jan. 12, 2013, at Singing Hills Coffee Shop in Waterville.
Committee members present: Jane Cummiskey, Diane Munson, Karen Bauer, Kathy Kerekes.
Karen passed out copies of the Nov. 9, 2012 meeting minutes and copies of an article written to be submitted to Lake Region Life paper, reviewing WCC's projects and events of the last 2 years. Motion made by Diane, seconded by Jane, to accept minutes and to send the article to LRL. Motion carried.
Jane passed out copies of the fiscal report for 2012, and it was reviewed by the board. Kathy presented cash from the luminary donations and art classes. She reported she was happy with the results of the classes, and participating kids and parents seemed to enjoy it. She would like to continue classes and events, and there are matchable grants available for more activities. Kathy also needs the final report to present to Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council, including minutes, finances, etc., so she can be paid the last money from the grant for the classes. There are advertising bills due for the art classes, Jane will present those to SMIF.
Jane reported that the money earned by members working at Lions bingo will pay for this year's downtown flower expenses. People from Potential Unlimited would like to do all the weekday watering this year, as an activity for their consumers. This would be done in place of the city hiring someone to water. PU would be paid for watering services. Volunteers would be needed for weekend watering, if needed.
Kathy will pay to renew the Sakatah Arts Experience web page, and present the bill to Jane. She plans to start advertising for volunteers for SAE starting in Feb.
Motion made by Karen, seconded by Diane, to approve the fiscal report and to pay bills as presented to Jane. Motion carried.
Diane reported on Friends of the Library. They earned a Barnes and Noble gift card for over $160.00 at the book fair. The group will meet soon to decide on how to spend that and other funds earned.
Adjournment by concensus.
Karen Bauer, note taker.
WCC 2 year wrapup article
The Waterville Community Connections, (WCC) volunteer group, formerly Horizons, has been a local project since the Fall of 2008. Many events and programs are working in the city, due to the dedication of a few local people. WCC's finances, the Waterville Community Foundation Fund, are held at Southern Minnesota Initiation Foundation, (SMIF), to ensure our non-profit status. Donations and endowments to this fund would assist in WCC's ability to apply for grants and secure matching funds needed for future local projects.
2011-2012 were a busy years for WCC, including the downtown beautification group. These ladies plan and tend the barrels, planters, and hanging baskets on Main St. every summer. The containers are planted early in the year by River Street Nursery, and are delivered to the streets when the weather is favorable. The plants are watered by the city, as well as people from Potential Unlimited, and other volunteers. The hanging baskets are financed by the Chamber. Benches are placed on the sidewalks by the city, and they are also maintained by the WCC. Some members also help with local park cleanup and maintain the perennial plants in the parks.
The Sakatah Arts Experience, (SAE) a one day art and entertainment show, has been held in Lions Park for 3 years, and the event and their website are promoted and partially financed by WCC. The SAE also receives funds from the Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council. The SAE site is: http://sakatahartsexperience.com/
The Welcome to Waterville sign was also a project of WCC, along with the Chamber and other local organizations. WCC is a member of the Chamber.
WCC has participated in the Women's Expo held at Frandsen Bank, and held a Community Forum, facilitated by SMIF, bringing together local businesses to share ideas and determine overlaps in services. A Waterville Area Volunteer Directory was developed by WCC.
Summer Activities for kids are promoted by WCC, with financial help of the city and SMIF.
WCC has received funds from the National Night Out and the Chamber Wine Tasting.
The Waterville Friends of the Library (FOL) is a part of WCC, and this group is busy promoting the Waterville Library, and raising funds for activities, supplies and materials, and to pay the wages for a librarian for Saturday hours. To raise funds, the FOL has had 2 Chili Cookoff events, and a Barnes and Noble Book fair, and sells used or excess books at the library. They also assist at special library activities, finance reading programs, publish a monthly newsletter, and help out when needed. They also helped recycle old and worn out books, so library shelves could be reorganized. New members are always welcome. The WCC and FOL have prepared and donated baskets for charitible and community events.
Local producers met a few times to help develop some type of cooperative market, with the assistance of WCC and donations from the Waterville Lions Club. From this developed the Waterville Local Cooperative Outlet, a non-profit corporation, located at Singing Hills Coffee Shop on Main St. Several local people sell their hand crafted wares on a consignment basis, during business hours at the shop. More sellers are welcome to apply to display their products in the shop. Some type of indoor farmers market was also proposed, but plans for that have not yet developed.
The WCC and WLCO have an office in a room at the Cummiskey Law Offices.
Some members of the WCC attended meetings of the Kaleidescope Institute Intercultural Training. The local group would like to partner with SAE and perhaps develop a cultural fest, present story tellers, cultural food, and videos of cultural stories at the arts show.
Kathy Kerekes, owner of the Singing Hills Coffee Shop, received funds from the Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council and WCC to present art project classes for local children. Local crafters/artists helped kids on 5 Saturdays before Christmas with art projects. The last Saturday was spent decorating bags to be displayed as luminaries on Sakatah Bay on New Years Eve.
One of WCC's favorite proposals has been the development of a Community Center for Waterville. Research into the project is being done by WCC and community members who would like to see this happen in our town. Location and financing are the biggest issues.
The WCC is a small but active group, and with the help of volunteers from other local organizations, has been able to provide city beautification and promotion of local projects for the area. Information about WCC activities can be found on the group's blog site, http://watervillecommunityconnections.blogspot.com.
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