Thursday, March 12, 2009

Presentation to the Grand Mound Rochester Citizen's Group

The Rochester Horizons Project program outline was presented to the GRAND MOUND ROCHESTER CITIZEN'S GROUP at their meeting Tuesday evening the 10th of March.

It is hoped this group will agree to join the Rochester Horizons Project as a partner. They are already a 501 c (3) organization with a mission of improving the Rochester and surrounding community.

Monday, March 9, 2009

Action Items Identified during the Study Circles Phase of the Rochester Horizons Project

  • Rochester Horizons Project

    Action Items Identified during the Study Circles Phase of the Rochester Horizons Project

    Create community theme Experience Rochester (As a group – discover what Rochester has to offer.) Home based business, etc.
    History & resources
    Recreational opportunities that currently exist
    Organizations

    Compile findings and update Resource Book
    Newspaper (but here)
    Contribute for existing newspaper
    Distribute via website, electronic newsletter, visitor center, signage, community information fair, existing newspaper
    Pictorial history @ visitors center/Historical center
    School Admin (the existing) building for visitor/Historical center
    Use of school facilities for education about community issues
    Theater – Movie/Stage
    Burma shave type “Welcome to community” signs
    Concert in the park
    Arcade
    Something interactive to incorporate community history
    Bike trail/walking trail
    Sidewalks & road shoulders
    Combine college & Library center
    Farmers market/business fair
    Collaborate with schools/grub
    Collaborate with community center (ROOF, Library, groups)
    HIEFER Project (commercialize Swede Hall kitchen)
    Youth & Senior Citizens involvement
    Mentoring Church action groups

    o Adult mentoring

    o Parenting

    o Cooking/baking

    o Outdoor activities

    o Building repairs to Swede Hall

    Business listing (Billboard)
    Bartering Co-op
    Bus system
    Satellite system for services – DSHS,, etc .,senior, college, feed banks, & counseling
    Continued diligence against illegal drugs
    Community signage (where things are, ie, parks, Lucky Eagle, freeway)
    Electronic newsletter
    Singles club
    Resource training/education liaison
    Center to include satellite offices for DSHS, Work Source, Food Banks, Senior & College counseling, Social Security)
    Farmers market/business fair
    Safety
    Workshops for ethic education
    Return of WIC to Rochester
    Personal invitation helps build relationships to gain more involvement by other people
    Build volunteer base for Library
    Neighborhood watch
    Buy locally
    Resource/exchange (helping those who are hurting but don’t show it outwardly)
    Involve high school students in community activities
    Low-cost meals and additional state support for schools that pass levies
    Entrepreneurship fair to educate people about potential apprenticeship programs
    Local senior center has only 6 to 11 people show up for “senior meals”
    Personal invitation helps build relationships to gain more involvement by other people
    Community forum on “work ethic work-shop”
    “Cash flow for Kids” game as a means of teaching financial responsibility
    Make Rochester the Folk Dancing capitol of Washington State using Swede Hall as the focal point.
    GIS partnership to train kids to be analysts
    Fire department to use GIS for their trucks on way to a fire
    We need to adopt a mission statement to incorporate technology teachings into the community

    o Block Watch
    o Involve middle school students and staff in some activity at the park
    o Small groups needed to start “lending Circle”
    o Discrimination - age, language culture etc.
    o Unite various community groups
    o New businesses/grow existing businesses
    o Grow local jobs
    o Guide local growth
    o Art Tours
    o Increase volunteerism
    o Community pride - Flag at Post Office not displayed on holidays and other times
    o Use of schools for community events
    o Rochester Leadership
    o Resource case-worker training
    o Visitors Historical Center type of central information resource

    Additional Things we can do to increase our ability to convince people/groups to invest in our community!

    o Build a resume of successful small projects
    o Keep track of volunteer hours on community projects which can then be used as matching funds
    o Look at an organizational structure that will form the basis of getting started

Thursday, March 5, 2009

Doreen Hauser/Lindstrom visits Grand Mound-Rochester'sLeadershipPlenty Training

LeadershipPlenty Section

The LeadershipPlenty section was completed on Tuesday evenig (03-03-09) Our next meeting is to present the Rochester Horizons Project to the Grand Mound Rochester Citizen's Group on next Tuesday evening (03-10-09) at Swede Hall (On Albany Street 1/2 mile south of Hwy 12). The meeting starts at 7:00 PM and all Rochester residents are encouraged to attend.