Horizons Makes Push for Improving Telecommunications Access
In late 2006, Washington State University (W.S.U.) Extension brought news of Horizons – a Northwest Area Foundation funded program based in the concept of “community leadership to reduce poverty” – to the communities of Klickitat and Skamania Counties. Horizons was designed as a program of community discussion, strategic thinking, leadership training and, ultimately, the creation and implementation of action plans for rural communities experiencing economic decline to move toward newfound prosperity.
Six area communities applied and were accepted to the program: Goldendale, Glenwood, Klickitat, Trout Lake, Stevenson/Skamania and White Salmon/Bingen. Hundreds of community members across the two counties participated in the first stages of the process, culminating this past fall as each participating community identified a set of action items toward which they would focus future efforts. Interests ranged from improving local offerings of youth activities and senior services to affordable housing. Another need recognized by several participating communities was that of improved telecommunications services, as many of our more remote residents do not have access to high speed internet and cell phone service.
W.S.U. Extension, led by Horizons Community Coaches Ava Van Velsor and Linda Williams, led the formation of a telecommunications committee. Klickitat County Economic Development and Washington’s Office of Community Trade and Economic Development became involved, as did Klickitat P.U.D, Embarq, SawNet and community representatives, recognizing the importance of rural high speed internet access for rural businesses and individuals alike.
The Community of Glenwood has led the way by assessing high speed internet demand, tapping into the initiative and interest that Glenwood High School Senior Jimmie Smith had for incorporating the need into his senior project. Within weeks over 75 surveys of nearly 200 that had been mailed, had been returned, overwhelmingly in support of improving high speed internet access for Glenwood. The impressive response has attracted the attention of one area high speed internet service provider that currently is working on a plan to improve access for Glenwood.
Encouraged by Glenwood’s efforts, the Horizons telecommunications committee is adapting the Glenwood survey for use throughout the county. Questions are being added to the survey to help determine reasons people do not want (or can’t get) broadband, to better understand what residents know about the technology training that is available in the area, and help identify the geographic locations where access is unavailable.
So please watch for the survey in the April billing. The surveys will be collected with PUD payments. Results will be tabulated by Goldendale High School students and used to determine demand, identify community education interests, and work on targeted infrastructure needs.
5/21/08
Glenwood Sends Students to 4H Teen Conference
A big thank you to the Horizon's Project for their sponsorship of students to attend the 4H Teen Conference that will be held at Washington State University in Pullman on June 29 through July 1, 2008. Glenwood High School Students Julia LaVallie, Audrey Hill, Corbin (CJ) Schuster, Leah Pedersen, and Catherine Settler have registered to attend. Students must currently be in the 8th - 12th grade to participate. They are taking all kinds of workshops while attending, from The Low Down on Logo Design to Examine the Evidence; The E-Mail & Text Messaging Dilemma: WYSIWYG to Step Up to Steptoe. This conference comes highly recommended and is a great opportunity for our young leaders to have a great time and learn leadership skills at the same time!!!
Steering Committee Meeting on May 5, 2008
Steering committee members for the Glenwood Horizon’s Project met on May 5, 2008. The group gathered to discuss training opportunities as well as take a look at where to spend the remaining grant funds.
To date, there have been two trainings offered to community members. There has been a grant writing workshop presented by Jennifer Smith. The local Horizon Community Coaches also brought Natalie Kinion, WRAP School Age Child Care Specialist, to present to local students. Their discussion was focused on the development of a Youth Recreation Center. Training dollars will also be spent to send Bridget McLaughlin and Julie Brazil to the Health School Summit at the end of May. Mr. Aaron Oldenburg will attend a Lewis-Clark St Summer Institute for Teaching American Indian Students in Lewiston, Idaho at the end of June.
Committee members Jay McLaughlin, Jensi Smith, Josie Zaragoza, and Leah Pedersen then weighed in on what would be the best use of the remaining grant funds. Although everyone felt that all four of the Action Items identified during the Visioning Process would be beneficial to the community, it was decided that it would be better to invite the larger community into the discussion. The committee talked about where the additional grant funds would have an impact and what Action Items would need much more work and/or support.
A Horizon meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday, May 27 for the discussion to continue with community members. At the conclusion of the discussion, committee members will make a recommendation as to where money will be spent. All community members are invited to attend, even if they have not been part of the Horizon Project until now.
To date, there have been two trainings offered to community members. There has been a grant writing workshop presented by Jennifer Smith. The local Horizon Community Coaches also brought Natalie Kinion, WRAP School Age Child Care Specialist, to present to local students. Their discussion was focused on the development of a Youth Recreation Center. Training dollars will also be spent to send Bridget McLaughlin and Julie Brazil to the Health School Summit at the end of May. Mr. Aaron Oldenburg will attend a Lewis-Clark St Summer Institute for Teaching American Indian Students in Lewiston, Idaho at the end of June.
Committee members Jay McLaughlin, Jensi Smith, Josie Zaragoza, and Leah Pedersen then weighed in on what would be the best use of the remaining grant funds. Although everyone felt that all four of the Action Items identified during the Visioning Process would be beneficial to the community, it was decided that it would be better to invite the larger community into the discussion. The committee talked about where the additional grant funds would have an impact and what Action Items would need much more work and/or support.
A Horizon meeting has been scheduled for Tuesday, May 27 for the discussion to continue with community members. At the conclusion of the discussion, committee members will make a recommendation as to where money will be spent. All community members are invited to attend, even if they have not been part of the Horizon Project until now.
4/10/08
Glenwood Fall Festival
On Saturday, September 22, 2007, the Glenwood Horizon community hosted a celebration of community success. The day was developed and hosted by the Horizon Steering Committee and funded through the Horizon Project and local contributors. Committee members include: Jay McLaughlin, Sara McFall, Jensi Smith, Josie Zaragosa, Leah Pedersen, Amanda Wunderle, Donna Montgomery, William Schuster and Marvina Randle. Contributors for the event were: The Glenwood General Store, Alicia McKenzie, Roger Kuhnhausen Trucking, Darrel Spies, Hansen and Spies Logging, The Townhouse, and the Vancouver Sportsman Warehouse. A special thank you is extended to Steve and Kay Hoodenpyl for their generous use of the property, located on Main Street. The days events included games, food, and prizes for young and old. Everone enjoyed the gunnysack race, egg toss, pie eating contest, elk bugling contest, and rubber ducky race. A free barbeque meal with burgers, dogs, salads, and desserts was served throughout the day. Thank you to the Glenwood School GEAR UP cooking club, Josie Zaragosa, Jensi Smith, and Amanda Wunderle for their help in preparing the salads and desserts for the event. More than 100 community members attended the event. Congratulations to Doug Randle for winning the 50/50 Duck Race and to Lori Fakesch for winning the Door Prize-a $25 gift certificate from the Glenwood General Store. Thank you to everyone who participated, a special thank you to those who helped with the planning, preparation, and cleanup.
Horizon's Community Beautification Day - June 2, 2008
As part of the Horizon's Project, a group of Glenwood community members participated in a Community Beautification Day on Saturday, June 2, 2007. At the conclusion of the Study Circle process, the group decided to put together a town clean up day. Members met in the morning to begin picking up trash around the community. Ms. Jane Gibson, Glenwood School faculty member, offered her services and classroom to host a lunch break so that everyone could regroup and refresh themselves. Following lunch, members again took to the streets to gather up litter before meeting around mid-afternoon to plant flowers in large planters that were distributed around the community. Jay McLaughlin built and installed new planter boxes on the east side of the Post Office, which were also filled with colorful perennials and annuals. Thank you to all those who contributed to the effort by helping pick up trash or those who donated money, food, flowers, or potting soil.
LeadershipPlenty Training
As part of the Horizon's Project, four Glenwood community members were invited to travel to Moses Lake, Washington, to participate in leadership training. Fliers were posted and participants of the Horizon's Study Circles were recruited to attend the training. Although many expressed interested, only four residents were actually able to take the time to participate. Jensi Smith, Leah Pedersen and Josie Zaragosa attended the training entitled "LeadershipPlenty" on April 10-12, 2007. This training taught participants about how to manage conflict, design a good agenda, run an effective meeting, etc. Once the trainees are able to go back and present the training materials to their communities, in their entirety, they become certified LeadershipPlenty trainers for life. Miss Pedersen was the youngest participant to attend the training presented in Moses Lake. The fourth participant, Dana Hathaway, attended a technology forum. This training was presented to help communities make use of the Horizon Blog as well as how to post articles, upload photos, and make/post videos. The Horizon Project also gave each community a Kodak digital camera. Starting on May 7 and running through June 11, 2007, the LeadershipPlenty curriculum was presented to the Glenwood community. A number of Glenwood School faculty members and students participated in the 60-clock hour course. The LeadershipPlenty training is one phase of the Horizon's Project. The Northwest Area Foundation funds the project. Washington State University has been the organization that has helped facilitate the program in communities all over Washington State. There are six communities in Klickitat and Skamania counties that are actively involved with Horizons.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
