The Way Through

Readers of this blog probably think it's the end of the road for our dreams and all the work we've done to develop a community center for our area.

Think again.

Although time has passed with no updates here, behind the scenes leaders in this community have been putting their ducks in order to pave the way to our center.

Leaders like Phil Hansen, commissioner of the Coulee Area Park and Recreation District , J. Scott Graham, Chief Executive Officer of the Coulee Medical Center, and Geary Oliver, a commissioner on both boards. The leaders of these entities have learned about and/or participated in the Horizons community meetings; they are moving forward to find other leaders to join in making a community wellness center a reality.

The Star - Online Newspaper shared Graham's idea: "Preventing illness rather than curing it, he said, is becoming an important part of the future of medical care. And a family-friendly, well-used wellness center, complete with fun, safe exercise options for year-round activities, would encourage a lot of prevention."

It's not the end of the road; we've just turned around and found the way through.

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Photos:
Kruk Road to Banks Lake
Kruk Road from Banks Lake
Sheri Edwards

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HORIZONS: Community Leaders Reducing PovertyWorking together to move from poverty to prosperity for all.
Mary Schilling at 633 3033 or email at mschilling@gcdsd.org
Learn more about the Horizons program http://horizons.wsu.edu/

Meeting August 26: WAG Strategic Planning

The Wellness Action Group is a local community organization in it's infancy. Its sponsor is the Horizons Group and WSU with a purpose to reduce or eliminate poverty in this area.

The focus of the Wellness Action Group is to build a community center for the Grand Coulee Dam Area. Our community has a major need for a comprehensive center to address the central issues associated with poverty.

Most of the efforts so far include planning and background research and input from community members. Soon, the W.A.G. hopes to begin the process of coordinating funds and building the community center. At that point, the support of the entire community will be needed.

Won’t you join now?

Tonight's Agenda:

Review minutes from previous meeting
Reports
Old Business	· Strategic Plan · Increase community participation and buy-in/partner with local government · Train the Trainer training for Futures Game · Mind Mapping Exercise
New Business	·

Next Meeting

September 9, 2010 Time, Location TBD

Minutes July 10:

Meeting Minutes

July 15, 2010

Horizons Grand Coulee WAG Action Meeting

Pepperjacks Restaurant, 6:00 p.m.

Present:

Scott Hunter

Sheri Edwards

Jenelle Ottmar

Christine Price

Lee Stockhorst

Old Old Business

Scott – After Tom Jensen’s idea from the hospital renovations, our community project can cut and paste from another community plan. See Ephrata, Bellevue plan from the Parks and Recreation District. How was it written? Merge them. This may be a good project for Lee. Find the digital version of these plans.

Lee can also make a calendar of grants to apply for, adding this to our strategic plan.

Lee – We can also host finger painting days and the like, sponsored by WAG to survey the market and earn community buy-in. Currently eleven softball teams are using the park (which is not being watered). Anything you can take your kids to hear is appreciated. We may also sponsor a financial planning workshop and job/scholarship application workshops.

Jenelle – Horizons can easily sponsor a financial education workshop. This is one of the program specialties. We can offer babysitting as well.

Scott – To partner with local government we may have to “shame” officials into participation. North Dam Park is being let go to waste. It is a huge asset.

Lee – I will return from summer vacation on August 22.

Jenelle – We will bring project supplies for Lee to our next meeting. I believe Nate Pitturaschatit or Amanda Poch are in possession of the project business cards. Kevin Lind may have the camera.

New Business

Mind Mapping Exercise scheduled for Thursday, September 9, 2010 at 6:00 p.m.

Christy – The Gates Foundation is giving grants to support community foundations. You must be a 501c3 to receive this money. The application process and award criteria are very simple.

Next Horizons WAG Meeting	August 26, 2010 PepperJacks Restaurant, 6:00 p.m.
Coulee Area Park and Recreation District (CAPRD) Meeting

Minutes by Jenelle Ottmar

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HORIZONS:

Community Leaders Reducing Poverty

Working together to move from poverty to prosperity for all.

Mary Schilling at 633 3033 or email at mschilling@gcdsd.org

Learn more about the Horizons program http://horizons.wsu.edu/

What picture will we paint for our community?

WAG Horizons Community Meeting
6/10/10
6:30-8:30 PM
Center Elementary
Notes and Thoughts
Sheri Edwards

Help us choose the next big steps to bring us from past poverty and divisions to future hope and unity...

Text:

Christy Price
Paul Allen Foundation
Poverty
Fill gaps
Community needs
Build Capacity

Barbara Engstrom
State grant-- maybe rotary

Michelle --
Mark Neal, Architect
Tell the story

Wellness center
Master plan

Needs Assessment
Competition to community

Daycare
Kids prepared to learn
Atmosphere

The Package
The Story
The Evidence

Ownership
See Handout

Food Service-who, how
Bureau and others--
"Membership"
Hotel/motel tax

Jenelle Ottmar
Impact Statement


Connections
School-- pool, fitness, conference rooms, health agencies;
Medical-- therapy pool, conference rooms, health agencies, elder help;
Daycare-- learning prep, safety, health agencies;
Parks and Rec-- pool, parks, funding, conference rooms, education;
Culture-- activities, education, shared history, conference rooms;
Daily health-- community and school access;
Tourism-- year-round access;
Conferences-- CCT, BLM, GCDSD, CCH, Others (church, Rotary, Chamber, Businesses);
Fiber--access for community
Community--cohesion, five towns/one home center, employment, youth activities, wellness, 1935-2010+, future vision reality...

So...

What picture will we paint?

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HORIZONS: Community Leaders Reducing Poverty

Working together to move from poverty to prosperity for all.

Mary Schilling at 633 3033 or email at mschilling@gcdsd.org

Learn more about the Horizons program http://horizons.wsu.edu/

WAG Meeting 4/26

The Wellness Action Group is a local community organization in it's infancy that is sponsored by the Horizons Group and WSU to reduce or eliminate poverty in this area.

The focus of the Wellness Action Group is to build a community center for the Grand Coulee Dam Area. There is a major need for a center here and much of the central issues with poverty could be better addressed with this type of facility.

Although at this time the majority of efforts and needs have been directed towards planning, in the very near future the W.A.G. hopes to begin the process of coordinating funds and building the community center. At that point, the support of the entire community will be needed.

For now it is enough to get the word out about what the goals of the W.A.G. are and let the entire community know to be ready to help however they can.

Thank you,

W.A.G.
Rick Morton, Member

Next meeting:

Monday, April 26, 2010
Grand Coulee Senior Center
6:30 pm