Springdale Strategic Plan

Each Community's journey through the Horizons Program focused on Community Leadership to Reduce Poverty. To view your Community's Stratecic Plan, visit Horizons II Community Information page. Once there, click on your community's link and then on the link for a copy of the Community Strategic Plan.

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.

The New COGS

Springdale Horizons Steering Committee Meeting

Mar. 11, 2008 at 7pm Mary Walker School Library

A ‘WANTED’ (ALIVE) post was distributed on flyers and posted on the blogspot to inform people of the upcoming meeting. There were 10 ALIVE members attending the meeting including: Claudia King, Colleen & Jerry Dodge, Lela Taylor, Margie Wood, Mike Pammler, Raqeebah Amatallah, Sue Cox, Terry Waters, and Janet Jensen.

Interim Board is as follows:
Chairperson- Sue Cox
Co-chair- Susan Lattin
Secretary- Janet Jensen & Raqeebah Amatallah
Treasurer- Terry Waters
Blog/Reporter- Mike Easterly, Jerry Dodge, & Janet Jensen
Board Members- Margie Wood, Lela Taylor, Claudia King, & Donna Steig
Advisory- Mike Pammler & Sonny Clemmer
Authorized to sign checks- Mike Pammler, Lela Taylor, Terry Waters, & Claudia King

Ideas for our group name was discussed and voted upon:
Citizens Of A Greater Springdale (COGS)
The name above is the main 'tree' and our branches are:
Synergy of Springdale (SOS)
Economic Development
Radio Station
Habitat for Humanity
Community Center

Alternative Energy
If there are other branches growing on us, please let me know.

It was discussed that the 501C3, mission statement, bylaws, etc. are in the beginning stages. Lela provided the information to obtain an EIN number from IRS for a nonprofit status. Anyone is welcome with input for getting the grants.

There is $4,000 to be spent by June 2008 from the Horizon Project for education. Upcoming:
March 19- Leslie Jones- WSU ext. Colville- 5:30-8pm micro lending
March 20- Cathy McMorris Rogers- Spokane- 8:30-12pm grant writing
March 22- WSU ext. Colville-computer class #1 (Hunters is paying, space limited)
April 12 & 13- Green Fest.- Convention Center- Seattle- 10-8pm going green
April 17- Michael Shuman- WSU ext. Colville- -going local
April 18 & 19- Susan Howlett- WSU ext. Colville- 8:30-4pm grant writing
April 26- WSU ext. Colville-computer class #2 (Hunters is paying, space limited)
May 10- WSU ext. Colville-computer class #3 (Hunters is paying, space limited)
To be announced:
Patrick Malone- grant writing
Writing a business plan

Youth group of about 20 students will be doing tasks for the community. Mike Pammler will have details.
Meeting closed just before 9 pm. The next meeting will be held at the Mary Walker School Library on April 8, 2008 at 7 pm.

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.

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.

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.