C.O.G.S. : a report
Items of Progress:
1. The most dramatic change for Springdale has been the opening of our new community Depot. One of our members, Sue Cox, took the extraordinary step of buying the facility which we now use for our meetings, luncheons, craft bazaar, receptions, birthday parties, election returns, broadband hot sport, farmer's market, food bank, dinner and a movie night, card and games night, bingo and drawing classes.
More activities are in the development stage. The census bureau will be testing and recruiting, using the facility in later December. The result will be between 5 and 10 people being employed. Yea!!!!!
Our Depot is a place for people to meet, visit, share ideas, tools, manpower,give and take, and help each other actually be community, not just a nod and hello as we bump into each other at the post office or store, now we're really neighbors, friends, cohorts, engaged, encouraged, inspired and connected.
P.S. Other horizon communities: We meet others at the Post Falls meeting and enjoyed hearing/seeing what the other communities have been doing. We challenged Colville to a zucchini competition later int he year and eagerly accepted.
2. activities community clean-up
3. Clothing pool we have been located at Lanita's laundromat but now they nee the space for other projects The hunt is on for another location.
4. We have had a number of activities involving the Depot and the local public school---Thanks giving and Valentine cards, seniors visiting history and home economics classes.
W.S.U. design students took our Depot as a senior project. Plans were developed for possible expansion and remodeling. Three meeting were held with community at large, 1. providing input and wish lists, 2. mid term presentation, 3. Final at the Depot and the community at large shown the final plan.
5. Seniors cook book-locally producted by a home-school class and now available for $5.00.
Contributions to the above: The Horizions Program is indisputably the initial impetus for all of the above. It brought us to gather( yes, the free lunch helped), organized us, motivated us, and we are sailing on ward.

Describe accomplishment: Poverty reduction is difficult, but our Seniors have a wonderful, lavish, was and Delicious meal to look forward to every Wednesday. free of charge and trans portion is provided.

Significant challenges-local jobs are scarce for both heads of families as well as teenagers. Public transportation is non-existent.

Activities: In addition to our community center activities, we have established our non-profit status with the state, written articles of incorporation, bylaws and applied for 501c3 status.

Partnering: We have meet with Rural Resources, work source personnel and the Score Representative. Americore volunteers will be helping us with project next semester. No funding sources have been developed.

An added note: Gaining a facility for our community has been a great accomplishment. However with any structure that has not been used for a period of time, capital outlay has been problematic. Electrical, heat and air, new roof, all costly items.
But you know, when the community realized what the possibilities could be, any one that could help either in terms of volunteering time or finding affordable help or materials, stepped forward.
As a bonus, to the community, a home theatre was installed and if you ever come to Eastern Washington stop in Springdale and join us for dinner and a movie. Sue Cox

C.O.G.S. is an now an official organization

The Springdale Horizon group has a name, a location and official status!!! State non-profit status was granted in June, EIN number confirmed and 501c3 is in the final polishing stage. The center has been remodeled, cleaned, decked out with new paint, furnished with tables, chairs, kitchen appliances and enough dinnerware to serve a whole gob of hungry people. Thanks to those who have spent many hours and days making all of this happen.
To date we have had two senior socials (lunch and games) best food in town by the way, two weekend farmer's markets, three organizational meetings, 2 dish washer deaths, 1 walk in cooler shut down, 2 malfunctioning toilets and a front door lock that seemed to like certain people and hate others.
On July 17, a meeting was held in Colville with Scott Douglas, the Score adviser for The Tri-County economic Development Council. He will be helping C.O.G.S. in the development of a business plan, providing information on non-profit /profit organization and marketing strategy. Dana McDowell of Rural Resourses Community Action inform the group of programs which included employment, training, home purchasing and other assistance. The informational brochures for the several programs will be available at the C.O.G.S Center.

Special Focus - Synergy of Springdale (SOS)

Evolving out of the Horizons Circles, SOS tackled Springdale's basic needs. First on their list was creating activities for senior citizens living in the greater Springdale area. Their solution is the Senior Social event held weekly at the Community Church on Wednesday at noon. This popular event started in late summer with two participants. Today, over 25 honored guests enjoy a variety of hot lunches, companionship, bingo, and movies. Below is a slideshow honoring the volunteers and their successful work making Synergy of Springdale a progessive Horizons team project.

C.O.G.S. Community Center

Thanks to the Horizon program, Springdale has a community center!!!!!!! Located on Shaffer Street (the main drag in Springdale) a former restaurant and bar, the building has a commercial kitchen, cooler, handicap accessibility, 2,200 sq.feet and a back and side yard with enough space for a Farmers Market. The many months of meetings, hours of planning have been worth the time and effort. The center provides a home for the continuation of involving our citizens in further planning and implementing projects gleaned from the Horizon program.

What is Horizons?

What Is Horizons?


You ask, and why should my opinion be important? Well guess what, we all belong to a community. Communities are only as strong as the people who inhabit them. If our people are in need of help, due to economic down turns, health problems, social isolation, lack of appropriate shelter, education, etc. we, as a community, have within us the power to change these situations.

Horizons is a program whose goals are to give communities like ours, the tools to develop leadership, improve the local economy, and reduce poverty. Now you can’t beat that!

Horizons is not a government program, not a hand out or a top down program. Horizons is a grass roots endeavor to create prosperity in small rural areas like ours. Horizons was founded by The Northwest Foundation, associated with The Pew Endowment for social change, and W.S.U. Extension, Colville, as the local sponsor.

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed it is the only thing that ever does.” Margaret Mead

Our democracy is only as strong as our middle class.

WANTED

WANTED

(ALIVE)

Springdale Horizon Group is looking for positive, active, motivated people to participate in the action process of the Horizon's program.

A meeting will be held at the Mary Walker School Library on Mar. 11, 2008 at 7:00pm.

Past, present, and new people are invited to attend.

REWARD

A community that is strong, healthy, safe, self-reliant, economically developed, poverty reduced, leadership expanded for individuals and families.

Habitat for Humanity

Habitat for Humanity
(Springdale version)
Overview
Nov 07 through Feb 08

In the beginning of the Horizon Program, the following people signed up for Habitat for Humanity:
Lela Taylor
Uriah Berg
Raqeebah Dawud
Justyn Turner
Sonny Clemmer
Dennis McGuire
Carrie Scorel

The original sign ups have changed and presently we have:
Lead: Sue Cox
Raqeebah Dawud
Jackie Franks
Janet Jensen

On Nov. 13, 2007, our new members had a meeting. We discussed non-traditional designs for housing, such as silos, shipping containers, etc. Our training will consist of field trips to architectural college and other means to study building plans. We will start with an outlet for sales of recycled home fixtures ie. sinks, stoves, cabinets,… (donation)

On Dec. 21, 2007, we had our next meeting and viewed a DVD about building silo homes and other non-traditional construction. This meeting was held at Sue Cox’s home.

January 2008: We have discussed how many recycled home fixtures would be donated and where to store them. Lack of a building is our main concern.

February 2008: Our discussion is to concentrate on acquiring a community center building to further the Habitat actions. The community center would involve several activities benefiting not only Habitat.

S.O.S

SPRINGDALE S.O.S PROGRESS (Synergy of Springdale)
“Generations Coming Together”

After the chilling and relentless snows of January, forcing the cancellation of several of our Senior Socials, the S.O.S. Socials have resumed with a passion and are on an upstream leap toward spring.
On February 13th, Darcy Zollman’s 6th Grade Class provided radiant handmade Valentines for our Seniors. On February 20th, Miss Walker’s Mary Walker High School Home-Economics Class made, delivered and served, “from scratch” colorful veggie trays and deliciously-decadent desserts. On both occasions, the delightfully appreciative Seniors smiles, (as they realized they were being treated by their “Juniors”) were heartwarming and wonderfully exuberant for all.
In turn, several of our Seniors plan to be visiting Kyle Dodge’s High School History Class this spring to give first-hand accounts of surviving the major crises of the 20th Century.
S.O.S. (Synergy of Springdale), otherwise known as The Basic Needs Committee, sends thanks to all who have contributed and continue to help us grow. Having begun under the Horizon umbrella, S.O.S. is committed to meeting the basic needs of our community. As a reminder, our socials are held every Wednesday at The Springdale Community Church. Lunch (of which one ‘regular’ patron states is “the best food in town”) is served at 12:00-1:00 p.m. (if the food lasts that long!) with Bingo and prizes following. If you have any questions or want to join or donate to a willing team, please call Terry at 258-9190 or Margie at 258-4003.

Economic Development

Economic Development

Dec. 3, 2007 at high school

Mike Pammler, Claudia King, Cleo Miller, Mike Easterly, Tim Goad, Lois McKinney

To examine resources and opportunity within our community; discuss and develop strategies to reveal this potential; design a response to emerging interest which results in new business/employment…

We needed to create a group consensus of our (community) condition and introduce favorite projects. The original topic was to find a way to capitalize on the (statewide) burning ban which will create a wealth of wood waste… Discussion followed, including known business models for forest waste reclamation, nature of local lumber yard philosophy, sustainability and insurance. Additional topics introduced as follows:

Feed and tack store
Swimming spa
Hunting/Fishing/Tourism
Managed Care/Training Facility
Small Engine Repair/Training Business
Farmers Market
Adult campus for extended (internet) learning
Attracting a call center type operation

All agreed that market projections, business plans and motivated investors/capital are the key building blocks and that meeting with a consultant might help focus the “do-able” list.

All agreed that this committee effort should be reflected in the functions of the Chamber of Commerce…

We are adjourned for the holidays.