Community Builder: Service Groups

C Saturday, May 1, 2010

MMUNITY BUILDER Extra

8 Pages

Alexandria Detroit Lakes Morris New York Mills Park Rapids Perham Wadena In this issue of Community Builder, a quarterly publication of local Forum Communications newspapers, we take a look at some of the service groups that give back to Wadena and our area.

Silent Partners

Group has worked behind the scenes on big Wadena projects SARA HACKING

sarah@wadenapj.com

Over the years every small town needs a little TLC to preserve its charm and vitality. Behind the efforts of many recent improvements in Wadena is a partnership of community-minded individuals working to give the town a face lift and spur economic development.

Partners for a Healthy Wadena Region began in May 2000 to assist the city with community improvements such as the downtown streetscape and restoration of the Depot and bandstand, said Executive Director Kay Browne.

People don’t always realize the role Partners has played in retaining businesses and buildings in town, said board member and treasurer LeAnn Evans.

“Partners plays a unique role in this community,” she said. “Really, we’re one of the best kept secrets in town.”

Partners was an outgrowth of groups interested in Wadena revitalization who were concerned about the health of

Wadena in the mid-90s.

“In 1996 we had a lot of broken and boarded windows and empty storefronts,” Browne said. “Things were deteriorating.”

People in Wadena saw improvements in nearby towns such as Perham and Fergus Falls and were curious about how they got money for new streetlights and sidewalks, she said. After doing some research, they discovered the Small Cities Development Grant was something all the towns had in common.

“That kind of started the whole push for community improvement back in 1997,” Browne said.

Once the city developed a strategic plan and received a small cities development grant, Partners was formed as a funding mechanism for the eight priority projects in the strategic plan, she said.

The first project Partners worked on was the streetscape, Browne said. That was a very involved project and took around seven years. During that time, Partners also helped See PARTNERS on PAGE 7

Photo by Sara Hacking

Partners for a Healthy Wadena Region Executive Director Kay Browne is working with a dedicated group of fellow volunteers to help local government improve Wadena. A major project the group has backed is the restoration of the Depot.

Creativity in the spotlight Madhatters gives the community live theater

Photos by Sara Hacking

Betty Hedstrom has been involved with Madhatters since the 1950s and loves to tell the story of Wadena’s community theater group.

SARA HACKING

sarah@wadenapj.com

If it takes a little madness to put on community theater, then Wadena’s Madhatters are aptly named.

From the spectacle of big musicals like “The Sound of Music” to one-woman shows like “Sorry, Wrong Number” to putting on summer drama camps for kids, Madhatters Community Theatre brings live performances to town.

“We give back to the community ... live theater, something they can’t get very easily in this area,” said Betty Hedstrom, who has been

involved with the group since before it even became known as Madhatters.

The group’s first play was “I Remember Mama” in 1954.

Hedstrom joined that fall with “The Man Who Came to Dinner,” and continues to support the group.

Putting on a production requires going out on a limb, according to Allan Lynk, who joined Madhatters when the theater group was revived in 1976 after not having a local production since 1961.

“I suppose in a way you’re kind of mad to attempt some of the these projects,” Lynk said.

He dressed up as the

Madhatter from “Alice in Wonderland,” complete with a big top hat, a pocket watch and striped socks, and greeted people in the lobby during performances of the group’s most recent production, “On Golden Pond” this spring.

Lynk was good friends with Bill Bradford, a theater professional who is credited with reviving the Madhatters. Bradford’s mother, Lillian, was one of the founding members of Madhatters. The first play for the revived group in 1976 was “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” and Lynk played the lead.

Lots of young people participated, he said.

“In those days, it was a social phenomenon,” Lynk said.

Quite a few marriages came out of it, including his own to Karen Johnson.

Mary Phillips also joined Madhatters when it was revived. She’s a “drama person,” she said, and was in plays in junior high, high school and college.

“It’s a wonderful feeling to be part of that community working on whatever the play is,” she said.

Phillips began Storyplayers for the Christmas Festival.

There were no auditions and everyone who wanted to could be involved with the group storytelling, she said.

Allan Lynk steps into the role of the Madhatter as he greets people before a performance of Madhatter Community Theatre’s most recent production, “On Golden Pond.” Lynk became involved with Madhatters when the group was revived in 1976.

She has done almost everything with Madhatters from performing to sweeping the floor, Phillips said.

Her children were involved with Madcaps, which was a performing group for kids.

Three generations of her family have been involved with Madhatters after her son, Pete Phillips, and his daughter, Madison, participated in “On Golden Pond.”

There have been some ups and downs over the years in Madhatters like there is with anything, Lynk said.

Hedstrom is so glad there

is an interest in Madhatters again, she said. People are asking what they are going to do and when.

Madhatters have done dinner theater shows in the past at places like the Elks in Wadena and the golf course in Perham.

People enjoyed that and she would like to do it again, she said.

“I would like to see our future hold a musical within the next couple of years because I think the community enjoys them and we enjoy doing See MADHATTERS on PAGE 2

Wadena Pioneer Journal office: (218) 631-2561 • Fax: (218) 631-1621 • Web site: www.wadenapj.com • E-mail: PJeditor@gmail.com or classifieds@wadenapj.com

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Page 2 • May 1, 2010

Wadena Pioneer Journal

Redemption through construction Sentencing to Service crews use inmates to build something positive BRIAN HANSEL

brianh@wadenapj.com Photo by Brian Hansel

W h e n

Knob Hill Sportsman’s Club president Craig Reece heads an W a d e n a organization that funds and directs a variety of outdoor exCounty sheriff periences for area sportsmen with an emphasis on youth.

Gunning for success Knob Hill Sportsman’s Club heavily involved in environment BRIAN HANSEL

brianh@wadenapj.com

The Knob Hill Sportman’s Club has been leaving its tracks all over the area for the last half-century.

The club was started at the old Wadena Radar Station and has been heavily involved in the area ever since.

The club’s 300 members use their time and funds on a wide range of activities. At their Knob Hill club northeast of Wadena, the club holds ATV training and firearms safety training for kids. They also have pistol leagues, a running target league and a trapshooting league at their club, which has both outdoor and indoor shooting facilities.

The club has been active in giving wildlife a hand and they have a huge block of habitat just north of Wadena on U.S. Highway 71.

“We own 680 acres, a wildlife management area, that we run. We sponsor a lot of youth activities anything with firearms and trapping and we are trying to get an archery club going,” Knob Hill Sportsman’s Club president Craig Reece said.

You can track the club’s progress all year long. The members are busy not only in the fall, winter and spring, they also have a building at

the Wadena County Fairgrounds in the summer which they stock with fish and game for fair visitors.

The club’s Forkhorn Days is a day for sportsmen under 17. They have a raffle, food and fun. Organizations donate prizes to the kids.

“Our main fundraisers are for legal adults so we have this day for kids. It’s competition for the kids.”

The Knob Hill club takes some of the fish stocking burden at Sunnybrook Park.

Wadena has long been a huge town for outdoor sports and the club is interested in keeping it that way.

“Our club focus is on the youth to get them to keep the outdoors going. We want to really initiate the outdoor sports. In the spring, going out to look for sheds, getting them into the woods, building wood duck houses and bluebird houses,” Reece said. “Between sun-up and sundown there are a lot of activities they can be doing.”

The club facilities can only be accessed by club members but they can bring non-members out to use the facilities.

“If we have the funds we get it out there. If it can help youth and promoting gun safety and protecting the environment, that’s what we’re really after,” Reece said.

MADHATTERS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 them,” she said.

Musicals take a lot of time and dedication, Hedstrom said, and it’s difficult to get people to consent to do that.

Phillips encouraged people to get involved in Madhatters’ productions. The scariest part is trying out, but people just have to realize that not everyone gets cast, she said. There are still opportunities to work on the crew. Every part is important, she said.

Hedstrom, Phillips and Lynk all said Madhatters gave them the opportunity to meet people they never would have met otherwise.

“The friendships, I guess, would be my favorite part of Madhatters,” Phillips said.

Hedstrom enjoys being part of a group that’s creative, she said.

“Maybe we’re all hams,” Hedstrom said, “I don’t know. We do like to create in some way or other, whether it be acting or directing.”

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Thank you volunteers!

You help make our community a better place.

Mike Carr has a building job he wants done he knows where to go.

Carr might Wadena County be one of the Sheriff Mike people most Carr responsible for filling the ranks of the Wadena-Todd Sentencing to Service crews but he is also a fan of their work.

STS remodeled a sally port for the Wadena County Sheriff’s Department and built a forensics room, where evidence is processed, and a larger evidence locker. Carr cannot recall any job being too big to tackle for the STS crews.

The Todd-Wadena Sentencing to Service program has been operating since 1991. Workers come and go but there are an average of 12-14 of them available to fill the four work crews that Charlie Tuorila supervises.

Tuorila has the help of four part-time crew leaders three days a week.

Sentencing to Service uses inmates at the Wadena and Todd County jails for a variety of jobs for local government departments and agencies. They will tackle all kinds of jobs for cities and government agencies. They built a house in New York Mills in 1997 at the request of the state to prove an STS crew could handle such a project.

They also do remodeling jobs, pour concrete, shovel out fire hydrants, landscape, mow, paint buildings cut brush and maintain facilities for the Department of Natural Resources. Crews have also lent a hand to a popular gardening project in Staples that helps to feed the hungry all over the area. STS started the project two years ago. Juvenile crews put in an acre of land at the Staples Experimental Station, which is an acre of land that provides produce for area food shelves.

The program is under Todd-Wadena Community Corrections director Kathy Langer. Her job is to gain the funding needed to operate the program and help Tuorila whenever he calls for it. The demands on the program recently required an operating budget of more than $73,000.

Funds come from state and county sources. To receive funds from the state STS must document that the money is

Fuel Oil Motor Oil Gasoline & Greases

Photo provided

Kathy Langer and Charlie Tuorila head up the Todd-Wadena County Sentencing to Service program. The local STS arm has been operating since 1991.

being spent locally. Like other government agencies, STS is grappling with funding cuts.

Sentencing to Service crews work 10-hour days.

They are paid for their work but their wages are applied to their fines.

Tuorila goes out three days a week and spends one day a week in the office on paperwork. He works with his crews all day long.

“I pick them up at 7 a.m.

And we get done at 5:30 p.m.,” Tuorila said.

When Tuorila, who has only missed one day of work in 19 years, is not with his crews, his crew leaders take over. STS crews are out six days a week.

“They do a lot of good things for us and save thousands and thousands of dollars for the taxpayers,” Carr said.

While some of the workers reside overnight in jail, others stay in their own homes during the evening and join the crews during the day as “walk-ons” to help pay off fines.

“Sometimes there are people who aren’t in jail who want to work on the crews to reduce their fines,” Langer said. “They are either in jail with a big fine to pay off and no job so they are working on the crew to work off their fine or after they are done working on their fine they might be trying to reduce their jail sentence.”

There is also a juvenile crew that works on Saturdays during the school year and three days a week in the summer.

The age of the people on the crew can vary widely. The

PJ file photo

STS worker Greg Keppers saws through a board as he helps to restore the historic bandstand at Burlington Northern Park last September.

oldest member of a Sentencing to Service crew was 92.

Some members of the crew have been handicapped but they still “put out an effort,” Tuorila said.

Sentencing to Service crews can handle many carpentry jobs but they do not perform electrical or plumbing work. They stay out of the private sector.

“It has to be a government entity or a non-profit organization,” Tuorila said.

Tuorila is proud of the program and feels that working on one of his crews helps to teach responsibility and how to hold a job. More than one Sentencing to Service client has asked Tuorila for a job reference.

“They are proud of the stuff they do. They will drive by and say ‘hey, we did that,’” Tuorila said.

“Charlie and the crew leaders are also teaching them

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[about] basic skills how to work at a job, how to have a good work ethic,” Langer said.

Some of the workers later take their families and friends to see the work they have done.

“We don’t try to take jobs away from anyone else,” Tuorila said. “The jobs we do are mostly for when they don’t have the help or the money to accomplish the job so they use us as a fill-in.”

Schools, townships, service organizations, churches also benefit from the STS program.

“It is just an amazing opportunity,” Langer said. “They are paying their debt back to society, they could just as easily sit in jail and watch TV all day if they wanted but they are choosing to come out on the crew and pay off their fine that way and give something back to the community.”

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May 1, 2010 • Page 3

God’s directive: work together Wadena Ministerial Association joins hands in His service STEVE SCHULZ

PJeditor@gmail.com

In Paul’s letter to the Corinthians, the apostle admonished the people of Corinth for their divisions, and urged them to work together: “11:17 But in giving you this command, I don’t praise you, that you come together not for the better but for the worse.

11:18 For first of all, when you come together in the assembly, I hear that divisions exist among you, and I partly believe it. 11:19 For there also must be factions among you, that those who are approved may be revealed among you.

11:20 When therefore you assemble yourselves together, it is not the Lord’s supper that you eat. 11:21 For in your eating each one takes his own supper first. One is hungry, and another is drunken. 11:22 What, don’t you have houses to eat and to drink in? Or do you despise God’s assembly, and put them to shame who don’t have? What shall I tell you? Shall I praise you? In this I don’t praise you.”

Paul’s words are at the heart of what the Wadena Ministerial Association is all about, according to Del Moen, the chairman of the group.

“I interpret it as a struggle to work together under a common faith,” Moen said.

So during a one-to twohour meeting, usually over lunch, pastors and church staff from about six of Wadena’s churches discuss where they can find common ground, whether through Scripture or just a community project.

It’s a diverse group, with Catholics and Protestants sitting at the same table focusing on what unites them rather than what separates them.

The Ministerial Association is more than 40 years old, and grew out of the ecumeni-

cal movement of the 1950s and 1960s, Moen said. Today, political divisions such as homosexuality divide the philosophies of many churches, and it’s a much more divisive environment. However, Moen said he appreciates the diversity he sees within the Ministerial Association.

“I think we’re at our most boring when we are at our most same,” he said. “I really am glad we have a diverse group of churches in town.

We really need a variety.”

Shortly after Moen moved to the Wadena area, the Ministerial Association undertook an ambitious project in 1995: to try to visit every home in Wadena and have the faith community reach out and provide information about all of the church offerings locally to people in their homes.

Ministerial Association members went door-to-door in Wadena and talked to people.

“The basic goal in that visit was to welcome anyone who didn’t have a church to come to visit one of our churches,” Moen said. “It was also an opportunity for the people to ask questions of the church.

We took back some valuable stuff.”

That’s a project Moen said he’d like to repeat in the future.

“I think that was a wonderful opportunity that we need to do again.”

Meanwhile, the Wadena Ministerial Association is involved in a number of local and international projects: • It conducts the baccalaureate service each year at Wadena-Deer Creek Schools.

This year’s is scheduled for Wednesday, May 26.

• It puts together a church softball league with 14 teams.

“This was a lot of fun,” Moen said. “We try not to

Photo by Steve Schulz

The Revs. Del Moen, left, and John Husband, members of the Wadena Ministerial Association, share a few words and a cup of coffee at Harvest Thyme Bistro, a common meeting place for the organization of churches.

make it too competitive.”

• The Ministerial Association provides some basic emergency care and service for the community. Using anonymous donations, the association helps people who might be in urgent need of temporary housing, food or heat.

“It’s a complicated deal,” Moen said. “We have to use our limited resources well.”

• Seven churches recently came together for a fundraiser for Haiti relief. More than $3,000 was raised.

• A fundraiser to help the people affected by Hurricane Katrina was also a big fundraiser.

But even better than the projects the group does is the coordination and camaraderie, Moen said.

“I think that’s the best part,” he said. “When we don’t do that, we’re walking right over each other.”

Moen said small logistical things like coordinating to make sure the church rummage sales aren’t competing with each other pay dividends.

And sure, there’s the occasional interpretation of the Bible talk, which is always enlightening, Moen said.

Moen said faith makes one strong, but when so many segments of the faith community

stand together, it’s even stronger.

“It’s an asset to the community, that’s the idea,” he said. “It’s a powerful resource for good and hope in the community.”

Working together and working for Christ, Moen said, helps get the area churches closer to what Paul told the Corinthians: “2:5 There are various kinds of service, and the same Lord. 12:6 There are various kinds of workings, but the same God, who works all things in all. 12:7 But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the profit of

Thanks to our volunteers!

Making WAVes

Neighborhood Counseling Center

Wadena Area Volunteers do good work on a flexible schedule STEVE SCHULZ

PJeditor@gmail.com

The Wadena Area Volunteers, or WAVe, is a group of mostly professional women who are able to put family first but also want to put service to community a close second.

Dr. Shaneen Schmidt, the group’s second-year president, said WAVe was originally the women Jaycees, then joined up with the Women of Today, a national organization.

“The national organization was wonderful,” Schmidt explained, but the group’s local goals and needs sometimes didn’t match perfectly with the paperwork and requirements of the national group.

So in the spring of 2002, WAVe was sprung. Schmidt said the group formed as a local unit and now numbers about 20 members.

It was mostly word of mouth and referral by other members that has kept the group strong, and it consists

primarily of professional women, many of whom are juggling work, family and giving back.

Schmidt said the group is very flexible, and understands that its members have other priorities too.

“It’s people wanting to volunteer, but not feeling like it’s sapping my time is very important to members in our organization,” she explained.

Family life does come into play often, Schmidt said, when a little extra help is needed.

“Our husbands and significant others are always helping out,” she said.

WAVe focuses on projects that better the community for young women and children, but strives for overall community betterment. Some local projects include: • Family Fun Day: Scheduled for June 19 this year, WAVe supplies crafts for children to put together. The group also provides food for the event for a small fee. The crafts are free. Hours are 11

a.m. to 2 p.m. this year.

• A yearly garage sale to raise money for WAVe’s Relay for Life team.

• A kiddie parade along with the grand parade, though that’s been suspended for the time being, Schmidt said.

“We just haven’t had anybody signing up,” she said.

“It’s usually been our kids doing it.”

• A young woman volunteer scholarship is given annually by the group.

• WAVe runs a kids section at the Conservation Expo each fall.

• WAVe has gone to area group homes and given the residents anything from cards to cake to gift baskets to brighten their day.

• The most high-profile event, though, is probably Santa’s Secret Shop, Schmidt said.

“That’s our big fundraiser,” she said. “That’s been going on many, many years.”

WAVe shops for bargain items — usually between 50

cents and $4 — and sets up a shop where kids are allowed to peruse items, buy gifts and have them wrapped, all while keeping the presents secret from mom and dad or siblings.

“We do things as simple as a super ball for a kid or a necklace,” Schmidt explained.

Kids can shop in privacy with a small amount of money and get gifts for parents, grandparents, pets and siblings.

WAVe meets the first Tuesday of each month in the basement of Todd-Wadena Electric Cooperative at 6:45 p.m. The group is open to new members, and there are no specific requirements to join.

There are dues of $25 a year to cover things like an insurance policy.

“We want the money we raise to go toward our projects,” Schmidt explained. “We don’t want that money to go to any administrative costs.”

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all. 12:8 For to one is given through the Spirit the word of wisdom, and to another the word of knowledge, according to the same Spirit; 12:9 to another faith, by the same Spirit; and to another gifts of healings, by the same Spirit; 12:10 and to another workings of miracles; and to another prophecy; and to another discerning of spirits; to another different kinds of languages; and to another the interpretation of languages. 12:11 But the one and the same Spirit works all of these, distributing to each one separately as he desires.”

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Page 4 • May 1, 2010

Wadena Pioneer Journal

When budgets falter, community groups step in TOM LARSON

Morris Sun Tribune

The story is the same throughout Minnesota: As the state government wrestles with an ever-deeper pool of red ink, local governments are feeling the pinch. Many Minnesota cities and counties rely on aid from the state to supplement their budgets, and a large portion of school district funding comes from the state. So when the state begins running low on money, aid to counties, cities and schools is often the first place lawmakers begin cutting. And, consequently, many programs can also fall under the budget knife.

Currently, the state of Minnesota finds itself struggling with deficits totaling billions of dollars over the next few years. As such, many offerings suffer, from after-school programs to summer rec activities to park improvements.

But for years, service clubs, nonprofit organizations, foundations and community members have been coming to the rescue. Or, in many cases, contributing before a need even arises. Giving back has never been out of style — or in short supply — in Minnesota.

“We have so much outside help,” said Cindy Perkins, director of Morris Area Community Education. “We’d never have the programs we have in a community this size without outside help.”

Perkins said the city portion of her Community Education budget has been trimmed 5 percent this year, and state funding for programs has been stagnant for about 15 years.

“We’re being asked to do a lot more with a lot less,” she said.

Alexandria City Administrator Jim Taddei said budget constraints have left cities, counties and school districts directing an increasing share of their budgets to essential services, such as public safety, roads and bridges and student-to-teacher ratios. New initiatives, no matter how modest, often are relegated to wish lists. But that’s where nonprofit organizations, interested groups and service and veterans organizations have stepped into the void. It’s been happening for years and often goes unnoticed.

Legion and VFW baseball programs have a long history and exist solely because of those groups’ missions to give to communities. Other groups, such as Sertoma, Lions, Kiwanis, Jaycees and countless others also have long histories of contributing, be it to an individual project or to help fund events at a county fair.

And many times, an individual will pick up the ball and run with it. As an example, Taddei spoke of a young person affiliated with an area church who, about 10 years ago, wanted to build a skate park in Alexandria. An admirable goal, but a daunting one, too. But youth groups got on board and, on their own, raised about half

of the $40,000 to $50,000 needed to make the park a reality. The park was built, and renewed faith in many people about the power of commitment and giving, Taddei said.

“It’s amazing how many times someone comes in with an idea, and pretty soon, it’s ‘Why don’t we do that?’”

Taddei said.

Moving ahead in tough times

That’s the same spirit a group in the Becker County area around Detroit Lakes hopes invigorates an effort to revive a long-closed ski hill. Detroit Mountain offers a beautiful view of Detroit Lakes and surrounding area, and a nonprofit group has been formed to determine the feasibility of creating a four-season recreational area there, said Brian Berg, Becker County administrator. In addition to the ski hill, organizers envision a campground, horse and cross country ski trails, as well as other amenities that could complement those projects in the future, Berg said.

On volunteer time and through volunteer dollars, a feasibility study is underway, and the county is looking at ways of contributing through a partnership in which tax forfeited land could be designated for the project, Berg said.

“We’re excited about it,” Berg said. “In these tough economic times, it’s not like we know how it will go or if it will go. But it’s not for anyone’s personal gain; it’s a quality of life issue. It’s a way that this community could move forward, improve the quality of life, and it could have a big economic impact.”

Giving and growing

Wrapping altruism up with the potential for community growth doesn’t have to be crass. Take the Alexandria Downtown Merchants. The 67 members of the organization would love to draw a growing number of customers into their businesses, but one of the ways they’ve chosen to try and do that comes with a huge upside for the community and its visitors. Through the Flower Basket Project, each spring and summer, the merchants are asked to pay $100 to purchase a large hanging flower basket to decorate the downtown area.

“The goal is to enhance and beautify downtown and keep it healthy and vibrant,” said Mike Schreiner, president of the merchants association. It’s in keeping with many groups’ efforts which result in benches in downtown walking areas, bike racks to encourage other forms of transportation, and spending money to beautify even garbage receptacles. The groups make the purchase and the city does its part by maintaining them, Schreiner said.

“There are a lot of little things people don’t know about,” he said. “When people find out about the flower baskets, they say, ‘Oh, we thought the city did that.’ That’s not

Photo by Morris Sun Tribun.

The Morris Area Women of Today, which organized more than 60 years ago, has donated hundreds of hours and thousands of dollars to aid in various city projects, such as contributing to the purchase of playground equipment in city of Morris parks. The group’s current project is spending more than $4,000 for a river dock in the city’s Pomme de Terre Park.

to put the city down, it’s just that people don’t know all the time. It’s a matter of education.”

Benefits of partnerships

The Morris Area Women of Today have been working under the radar for the betterment of its community of more than 60 years. Formerly the Jaycee Women, Women of Today have a laundry list of contributions to the community, the scope of which runs from helping to buy playground and other equipment for parks and donating to various funds, to sponsoring a circus for families and a Wish Tree to help underprivileged children receive gifts at Christmas. Among its municipal efforts, the Women of Today recently donated $1,000 to the construction of a disc golf course in Morris’ Pomme de Terre Park, and donating $1,000 to help build a spray park in the park. The park again is the focus of Women of Today’s giving.

The nonprofit organization is spending more than $4,000 for a dock in the park so that people can have easier access to the Pomme de Terre River, or just be able to take a seat on a dock bench and watch the river flow by during a camping trip.

“There are a lot of times when we’ll work with other groups like the Eagles, the Legion or Kiwanis,” said Women of Today member Marie Hansen. “It’s a way we can all help out and make a project work.”

As in Alexandria, the groups then receive the benefit of city expertise and maintenance, while the city benefits from not having the initial financial outlay, Hansen said.

Photo by Morris Sun Tribune

Morris-area groups and individuals made contributions to help persuade the city of Morris to install a water spray park in the city’s Pomme de Terre Park. As part of its Senior Legacy project, University of Minnesota, Morris students raised money and supervised construction of a disc golf course in the park three years ago. Officials have said it’s not likely, given budget constraints, that the city would have been able to move ahead with either project on its own.

programs owe a debt to groups such as the West Central Initiative Foundation, the Stevens County Family Service Collaborative and University of Minnesota, Morris students, as well as the steady support of service and veterans clubs.

Several years ago, Morris Area Community Education started The Zone, a comprehensive Giving keeps a good thing and well-attended after school going program for students in all Perkins said the school grades. Through The Zone,

students could receive homework and tutoring assistance, wellness activities and a nutritious snack, games and fun opportunities. The Zone initially was a free program funded through a $200,000, two-year grant by the Minnesota Department of Education. When the grant funds were gone, organizations stepped in to keep the popular and productive program going, Perkins said.

“We really saw a need and

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we had a lot of kids,” Perkins said. “After the grant ran out, we had to start charging but because of outside help we’re able to keep the costs down.

Times are tough but the community expects that you’re going to continue to provide all programs. We can’t do it with all of them, but because of the contributions of these groups and individuals, we can still do a lot of things.”

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Wadena Pioneer Journal

May 1, 2010 â&#x20AC;˘ Page 5

Rotary, Lions, Masons are community cornerstones ANNA ERICKSON

Park Rapids Enterprise

Many of area communities have service organizations with international ties even though the benefits are widely seen on a local level.

Rotary International, Lions Clubs International and the Masons each give back to their local communities with service and funding. Each organization has an overall mission and focus to give back to their communities.

Rotaryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s community leaders serve others

Rotary International is comprised of business and professional leaders who provide humanitarian service and help to build goodwill and peace in the world. There are approximately 1.2 million Rotary club members belonging to 33,000 Rotary clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas, according to a history from www.rotary. org.

The Rotary Foundation has awarded more than $2.1 billion in grants, which are administered at the local level

by Rotary clubs.

The clubs exist to improve communities through a wide range of activities. Some clubs partner with other international clubs to further understanding worldwide issues.

Rotary clubs focus on issues at home and abroad including health care, medical supplies, clean water, food, youth development and education.

Some of Rotaryâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s main objectives are: â&#x20AC;˘ Polio eradication. In

1985, Rotary International created PolioPlus â&#x20AC;&#x201D; a program to immunize all the worldâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s children against polio. Rotary has contributed $800 million and countless volunteer hours to protect more than two billion children in 122 countries.

Rotary is currently working to raise an additional $200 million toward a $355 million challenge grant from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. These efforts are providing polio vaccine, operational support, medical personnel, laboratory equipment and educational materials for health workers and parents.

In addition, Rotary has played a major role in decisions by donor governments to contribute more than $4 billion to the effort. With its community-based network worldwide, Rotary is the volunteer arm of the global partnership dedicated to eradicating polio. Rotary volunteers assist in vaccine delivery, social mobilization and logistical help in cooperation with the national health ministries, the World Health Organization, UNICEF and the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. â&#x20AC;˘ Peace. Up to 110 Rotary World Peace Fellows are sponsored each year to study at one of the eight universities for international studies in peace and conflict resolution.

Since 2002, 339 fellows from more than 75 countries have participated. â&#x20AC;˘ International education. Each year, about 1,000 university students receive Rotary scholarships to study abroad. Rotary clubs also coordinate a high school-age student exchange program that has sent nearly 8,000 students abroad. â&#x20AC;˘ Humanitarian projects.

Rotary clubs initiate thousands of humanitarian service projects every year. These volunteer-driven projects address the root causes of conflict, such as hunger, poverty, disease and illiteracy. â&#x20AC;˘ Literacy. Rotary clubs work to improve literacy rates worldwide.

â&#x20AC;˘ Water management.

Recognizing the importance of clean water, many Rotary clubs help to install wells and develop water treatment and distribution systems to increase access to fresh drinking water for communities in need, especially in developing countries.

Lions help communities with â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;we serveâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; motto

Lions Clubs International began in 1917 with Chicago business leader Melvin Jones, who asked a simple question: â&#x20AC;&#x153;What if people put their talents to work improving communities?â&#x20AC;?

Since then, the organization has grown and now has more than 1.3 million members in more than 45,000 clubs.

According to information from www.lionsclubs.org, Lions clubs have seen increasing membership for the last

two years. â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our membership around the world has increased by nearly 30,000 members in the past two years,â&#x20AC;? said Eberhard J. Wirfs, president of Lions Clubs International. Lions Clubs International is the only service club with a growing worldwide membership.

Lions clubs are reaching out in new ways and to new and younger members. Several years ago they began organizing family clubs that encourage parents and children and other family members to volunteer together. These clubs are designed to fit into the schedule of busy families.

Lions have also organized many specialty clubs such as cyber clubs that meet online and get together only to do service projects and ethnic or other clubs that serve the interests and needs of groups within communities.

One of the missions of Lions Clubs International is fighting blindness.

By conducting vision screenings, equipping hospitals and clinics, distributing medicine and raising awareness of eye disease, Lions work toward their mission of providing vision for all. Lions have extended their commitment to sight conservation through countless local ef-

forts and through their international SightFirst Program, which works to eradicate blindness.

Lions clubs also volunteer for many different kinds of community projects â&#x20AC;&#x201D; including caring for the environment, feeding the hungry and aiding seniors and the disabled.

The Lions created the Leo program to provide youth an opportunity to volunteer.

There are approximately 144,000 Leos and 5,700 Leo clubs in more than 140 countries worldwide.

Community projects often support local children and schools through scholarships, recreation and mentoring.

Internationally, they offer programs including the Peace Poster Contest, Youth Camps and Exchange and Lions Quest.

Since 1968, the Lions Clubs International Foundation has awarded more than $660 million in grants to support Lions humanitarian projects around the world.

Together, the Foundation and Lions are helping communities following natural disasters by providing for immediate needs such as food, water, clothing and medical supplies and aiding in longterm reconstruction.

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Freemasons belong to a fraternal organization that is international. The organization is often known for secret practices and teachings and there isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t a wide spectrum of information available to the public.

On a local level, Freemasons often belong to a Grand Lodge and have regular meetings. Some have fundraisers to raise money for grant giving.

The symbol for Masons includes a square and compass, often with a â&#x20AC;&#x153;gâ&#x20AC;? printed inside posted on the outside of the lodge. There is no widely accepted interpretation of the symbol, however.

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PJ C B

Wadena Pioneer Journal

Methodist women hear history of county historical society SANDI PRATT

Wadena County Historical Society director

The United Methodist Women had their meeting in the board room at the Wadena County Historical Society on Tuesday, March 10, and a couple women brought in dessert and made coffee in the WCHS kitchen. After their meeting Director Sandi Pratt gave them a tour of the museum. They get together once a month.

When they collected their monthly dues, they gave their dues to the Wadena County Historical Society as a donation.

Since the tour, thank you notes have been delivered for the gracious welcome to the UMW Group and the informative tour of the many display rooms. They felt they have a museum they certainly can be proud of.

Pratt also talked about the struggles the Historical Society had when trying to establish itself in Wadena County; and how Carl W. S. Peltoniemi filed the articles of incorporation for the Wadena County Society on June 26, 1967. The incorporators were listed as: Donald Blaha of Verndale; H. E. Boen, Jerrie Lee Everson, R. D. Grewe, Hugh C. Parker, Carl W. S. Peltoniemi, president; Sylvester Schmith, and Robert C. Zosel, treasurer of Wadena; Zola Grondahl of Staples; E. A. Jarvinen of Menahga; and Fred Miller, David H. Mattila, secretary; and Matt L. Wirkkala of Sebeka. This all came about because on May 18, 1967, Arch Grahn, field director of the Minnesota Historical Society of St. Paul, appeared at the Wadena County Courthouse to help local citizens reactivate the Wadena County Historical Society.

Way back in 1936, it was noted in the Lodge that every encouragement should be given to the Twentieth Century Club for its efforts to let the citizens of Wadena and Wadena County know their feelings on organizing a county historical society. It seemed that too many were inclined to feel that preserving mementos of the past wasn’t worth the effort involved. After searching the county for articles to start a historical society, the word was spreading and pictures and links of the past were uncovered. One of the residents who had not been heard from for more than 25 years sent the society trinkets, historical data and many articles that have become valuable additions to the collection. The Twentieth Century Club felt that Wadena County could and should have such a collection and the only way to get it was through the formation of a historical society.

According to the Sept. 24, 1936 edition of the Wadena Pioneer Journal, a proposal was made urging that a pioneer log cabin be erected at the fair grounds to house the relics of historic value. The structure would be 25-by-40 feet requiring approximately 64 logs. The idea was that each township contribute five logs and peel and treat these logs and have their names stenciled upon those logs.

In 1948, there was a new group to assist with the observance of the State Centennial.

Organization of a Wadena County Historical Society was made Wednesday afternoon, as noted in the Wadena Pioneer Journal of Feb. 5, 1948, when interested citizens met at Wadena City Hall. The principal reason for the organization of a local society was to promote the Minnesota Territorial Centennial to happen in 1949; but the organization was the nucleus of a permanent society for the promoting of historical matters pertaining to Wadena County.

The first elected president was Mrs. Boyd Conley of Verndale; Judge L. H. Pettit for Wadena was the elected vice president and Albert Lehman of Wadena was named secretary-treasurer.

You can see it took a ton of work to keep the historical society functioning on a continued basis. Peltoniemi’s work and two published stories in the Wadena Pioneer Journal of July 5, 1967, inspired other

citizens of the county to become involved in searching for and know the history of their immediate area.

Wadena County Historical Society “Wheels of Rejuvenation” have been set in motion

by Carl Peltoniemi and other interested people as noted in the Oct 5, 1967, article in the Wadena Pioneer Journal.

Ninety citizens traveled to four sections of the county in a 22car caravan and heard words of encouragement from Peltoniemi on the value of preserving history for posterity.

In the March 5, 1978, Wadena Pioneer Journal, David Nystuen, field director of the Minnesota Historical Society, was assisting citizens in Wadena County with the reorganization of the Wadena County Historical Society.

The meeting was at the county courthouse auditorium. Robert C. Zosel, Norrine Burnhm, J. Donald Brown headed the meeting.

On March 21, 1978, Norrine Burham was noted as the president of the reorganized county historical society at a meeting at the county courthouse auditorium. Pat Beaumont from Sebeka was secretary. Mrs. James Lundquist “Marion,” of Wadena, was named vice president. Art Theisen, Wadena, was treasurer and Elaine Schulstad, Wadena, was the historian.

On March 16, 1982, bids came in for a display case to be constructed at the Wadena County Courthouse.

From 1978 up until 1992, the historical society had been meeting at various places.

Most of the time the Historical Society met at the courthouse and Wadena Pioneer Journal.

On Oct. 8, 1985, John Crandall, Jim White and Rod Haling formed a building committee. It was on Jan. 29, 1986, that John Crandall had some papers for the old Sebeka School as a possibility for the county museum. Marion Lundquist reported on Oct. 19, 1986, that the commissioners suggested we look for a private home that might be donated as a museum. The Merickel home was suggested and John Crandall was to contact the owner.

In 1988, Helen Scheer and the Minnesota Historical Society of St. Paul looked at possible historical sites. One of those sites was the 1924 old fire hall building ($65,000).

In 1989, Brad Swenson, city of Wadena, wrote to Jim White to mention that the Wadena County Historical Society had first priority for the purchase of the city hall building.

In 1989, Irja Hanson became president of the Wadena County Historical Society.

Hanson wrote to the Minnesota Historical Society on how the Wadena County Historical Society might proceed to secure a building appraised at $65,000 because they were unable to convince the county commissioners that they should give the Wadena County Historical Society assistance. There were only two counties of the

87 counties in Minnesota that did not have a home for their collection and Wadena County was one of them. On Sept 28, 1989, the Wadena County Historical Society wanted to launch a fundraising campaign for a county museum.

In January 1990, Larry Fix was the chairman of the building committee. Other members were Irja Hanson, Elmer Bohjanen, Jimmy White, Eunice Fix and Loren Mosman. It was over a year later, on March 19, 1991, that the building committee and Jim Dye from the Wadena Chamber of Commerce and Rich Langer (contractor) visited the Wadena Depot to see if it was a suitable place for the Wadena County Historical Society resource center and office.

Irja Hanson and co-chair Larry Fix and the building committee sent out letters regarding the Viking Transmission Gas Co. It was now July 1992 that a letter was sent to Tenneco Gas regarding a museum home at the Viking Transmission Gas Company office building. The Society had received pledges in the amount of $26,000 toward acquisition of the building.

Larry Fix and Irja Hanson each pledged $5,000 toward the purchase of this building.

It was October 1992, and for many years the Wadena County Historical Society had been searching for a site which would be suitable for the history center. After several letters and calls by the Building Committee, Tenneco Gas of Houston offered to sell their property to the Wadena County Historical Society for $60,000.

January 1993 is when the executive director position was started with Mary McClure at the position. Other officers were John Crandall, president; Irja Hanson, treasurer; Pat Beaumont, secretary; Marion Derby, historian; Larry Fix, building committee chair.

Originally the name of the historical society chosen after securing the gas company was “Red River History Center”. A member pointed out that names of the history center should be the decision of our membership people. Membership was low at the January meeting so the question was not asked at that time. But as you know the name was changed to the Wadena County Historical Society.

There have been many board members and officers of the WCHS over the years. In 2010 the board members are as follows: Rich Paper, president; Elroy Evans, treasurer; Roger Folkestad, foundation chair; Joyce Palmer, vice pesident and representative from the Menahga Area Historical Museum; Ken Anderson, Wadena; John Crandall, representative for Old Wadena Society; Shirley Nelson, Wadena; Bette Peterson, representative for the Verndale Historical Society; Mary Seipkes, Henning; Elaine Schmitz, representative for the England Prairie Pioneer

Photo provided

Shown (l-r) standing are Shirley Nelson, Marlis Pilgrim, Ellen Spear, Lil Swenson; seated, Jeane Zosel, Mary Sheeran, Naomi Brust and Myra Peterson.

Club; Linda Smith, representative for Sebeka Historical Society. Sandi Pratt is the executive director/curator and acting secretary at the board meetings. Sharon Marquardt and John Crandall are education program coordinators who conduct education programs for the county schools, nursing homes and senior citizens clubs and others clubs interested in Wadena County history.

In the last few years the museum has been renovated, painted, updated and includes an 1870s Aldrich Depot, 1896 Barn Wall, Walking Through Time historic facts with displays, 1887 sleigh, Monarch Creamery cabinet, Sebeka Creamery cabinet, early 1900 ice breeze refrigerator, antique spinning wheels, commercial hotel switchboard, antique cast iron banquet stove with hot closet, 1886 mini court house tower, first Aldrich school teacher’s desk, Two Nations Indian Village, parlor, military room, country school, business room, church/pastor’s study, country kitchen, general store, railroad/creamery/court house room, ancestry clothing, stitchin’ post and nationalities room, family Christmas room, and bridal suite/auditorium.

We have much to be proud of throughout our 73 years.

Our research room was dedicated to Robert Zosel, which houses the results of years of research with the majority given to the society

by Zosel. There are approximately 4,000 photos in fire proof cabinets donated to the Historical Society by the Wadena State Bank; 3,500 donors of artifacts; 4,000 marriages; 17,000 cemetery records; 24,000 obituaries; 13,000 plat land listings from 1879 to 1900; 7,000 business listings; and much more.

Memberships and contributions assist in the preservation of area artifacts and historical documents, support education programs and help maintain and expand the collection and exhibits; help to expand our research center and genealogy lab; and keep the doors open to your county museum.

Thank you, volunteers - you make a difference!

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Thank you for your support in providing Wadena Deer Creek students a chemical-free post prom party. We could not do it without the support from our community organizations and local business owners.

HELMETs WORTH WEARing WEEk

May 8-14, 2010

For its 7th year, the Lakewood Health System Foundation will be distributing free bicycle helmets to area children.

get your

free helmet at:

Lakewood Health system Care Center gazebo 401 Prairie Avenue NE, Staples Saturday, May 8, 2010 • 10:00 – Noon Call Heidi at 218-894-8503 for additional times and locations.

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Abby’s Bakery Ace Hardware/Merickel Lumber Alexandria Beetles Ambassador Meats American Family Insurance AmericInn Ameriprise Arvig Communications Systems Barrel O’ Fun Bell Hill Recovery Center Ben Franklin Crafts Bluffton Baseball Assn.

Bluffton Hardware Bluffton Lions Bluffton Oil Company Brenda Ohman/Pampered Chef Brewski’s Bullseye Bar & Grill Burger King Carol Tornquist Carrie Bauck Cass Clay Central Lakes Orthodontics CHAMP Coalition of Wadena County Concordia College Cozy Theatre Culligan Water Dairy Queen Deer Creek Lions Dr. Aaron and Peggy Larson Dr. Chris O’Kane DDS Dr. John and Ann Pate Dr. Matthew Yelle Dr. Tom VanBruggen Dr. William Larson DDS Elk’s Lodge Fargo Moorhead RedHawks

First National Bank in Wadena Fresh Freeze Gordon & Fran Greenwaldt Harvest Thyme Bistro Heartland Tire Hockert’s Cleaners Holiday Station Stores Holland Molds, Inc. Homecrest Outdoor Living Hunke Transfer Jackie J’s Bridal & Formal Wear Johannes State Farm Insurance Johnson Funeral Home Kennedy, Nervig, Carlson, VanBruggen LLP Kenny’s Candy Company Inc. Kern Electronics and Lasers Larry’s Family Pizza Leaf River Ag Little Hollywood Video Lyle’s Shoes Minnesota State Community and Technical College Mason Brothers Mayer Porter Beinhorn & Rowe McDonald’s Mid Central Federal Savings Bank M J Ebner Insurance LLP Minnesota Twins Moench Body Shop Neighborhood Counseling Center Nite Owl Restaurant North Dakota State University Northside Floral Orton’s Amoco Over the Rainbow Floral Pederson & Pederson PA Pemberton, Sorlie, Rufer & Kershner Law Firm Pepsi Co.

Pet Freaks Pizza Hut Pizza Ranch Polman Transfer Professional Bull Riders, Inc Quality Paving & Sealcoating Quiznos Rex McDonald Studio Inc Russ Davis Wholesale St. Benedict/St. John’s University Schwan’s Shari Phillips/Mary Kay Cosmetics Signs & Designs Silvers Plumbing & Heating Smith Furniture Spear Auto Sales Spectrum Printing Stromberg Technologies Super One Terry Tumberg EA The Uptown Thrifty White Drug Timberwolves Tri County Hospital Truax Auto Sales, Inc. University of North Dakota VFW Wadena Federal Credit Union Wadena Hair Clinic Wadena Hide & Fur Wadena Lanes and Pro Shop Wadena Rotary Wadena State Bank Walmart West Central Telephone Assn.

Whitetail Run Golf Club Woodland Dental

Thank You! WDC Class of 2011 and Parents

PJ C B

Wadena Pioneer Journal

May 1, 2010 • Page 7

PARTNERS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 helped start the Cyber Cafe.

Since Partners is a 501(c)(3) it was asked to be the owner when Walter Goedel made a significant donation to purchase the building. Ownership was transferred to Clover Leaf Youth Partnership when they became a 501(c)(3). Partners also wrote some grants for them and coordinated volunteers, she said.

Another initial goal for the Partners group was historic preservation, Browne said. Wadena has 54 buildings designated historically significant.

“We saw historic buildings in Wadena as an asset that needed to be preserved and saved,” Browne said.

The Depot is on the National Register of Historic Places and is one of Partners’ main projects.

“The depots have always kind of been the center of town ... the heart of a community,” Browne said. “I just think it’s important to keep that history alive.”

After opening up for use in 2008, the Depot is now almost 100 percent complete, Browne said. It is rented out for baby showers, bridal showers, birthday parties, wedding receptions, Christmas parties and other events.

– Kay Now Partners is working with the city to fix up the old bandstand that is right by the Depot, she said.

Evans said the bandstand is also very historical and is part of the center of the city.

Not every town is fortunate enough to have such a perfect setting with the park and two historic structures, she said.

Fixing up the deteriorated bandstand also fits with Partners’ goal to help eliminate slum and blight, Browne said.

The restoration of the historic bandstand next to the Depot is a current project the Partners are focusing on.

“When things get blighted and deteriorated like the bandstand was ... people drive by and they feel sad,” Browne said. “They don’t like seeing the town go down.”

Fixing up places like the Depot and the bandstand helps build optimism for the future, she said. “ [ I t ] helps local people to realize that Wadena is doing well and can get things d o n e ,” Browne said. “We’re on an upward spiral.

We’re not Browne on a downward spiral anymore.”

Deterioration happens in all towns and parts of towns, Browne said.

“They always say 80 percent of what people take in every day is visual,” Browne said. “It really is important if a town looks visually healthy, visually strong, well kept.”

In addition to its priority projects, Partners has a general goal of helping with whatever the community

It really is important if a town looks visually healthy, visually strong, well kept.

deems priority issues, so long as members believe it is a project they can get done, she said.

Browne cites “just getting things done” as Partners’ biggest success. “We just try to take things on that we can accomplish,” she said.

Photos by Sara Hacking

The Depot in Wadena reopened in 2008. The renovated Depot is rented out for community use and has railroad exhibits and visitor information.

They also did business development from 2003-2007 and got a couple of U.S. Department of Agriculture rural development grants to help entrepreneurs start businesses in Wadena, she said.

Partners main fundraising event of the year is An Eve-

ning of Wine & Chocolate held in February, Browne said. But probably their biggest fundraiser is a group of dedicated volunteers.

There’s always opportunities for volunteers, Browne said. She encourages people to get involved in the com-

munity and to let the city or Partners know about critical needs they see.

“The first impression of your town is the last chance you get for your first impression,” she said. “So we want our first impression to be as good as it can be.”

Golden Gloves Boxing Helping build cHaracter in youtH for over 50 years.

Wadena boxing association

if you are interested call bob tubandt

218-631-3066

Wadena Hockey Club Thanks You

Wadena Hockey Club would like to thank the following individuals and businesses who donated generously allowing the purchase and installation of a compressor.

Without the support of these community members, Wadena Hockey Club could not provide hockey and skating as a recreational opportunity to over 250 area youth.

Anonymous Anonymous Anonymous Dan and Jeannie Carlisle Dr. Bobbi and Doug Adams Dr. Christopher and Sarah O’Kane Dr. David and Mary Freeman Dr. Jerry and Cindy McCullough Dr. Ryan Anderson Fred Burlingame Geri Holland J. Harold & Edythe Peterson Foundation Jack & Alvida Browne Foundation Robert Jr. and Lori Grendahl Rosemary & Harry Harrison Family Foundation Tom and Rich Paper Arvig Communication Systems Bill Stearns Boline Chiropractic First National Bank

Fresh Freeze Johnson Memorial Home Leaf River Ag Land O’Lakes Larry’s Pizza Mason Brothers Mayer, Porter, Beinhorn and Rowe CRA Merickel Lumber & Ace Hardware Mid-Central Federal Savings Bank Neitzke Eye Clinic Pemberton Law Office Peters Thrifty White Drug Pizza Ranch Polman Transfer Stigman Oil The Uptown Toby Pierce and Associates Tri County Health Care Wadena Hide and Fur Wadena State Bank

PETERS Est. 1884

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Saturday 8:30 a.m. - 6 p.m.

Sunday 9:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.

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