Lyle Steering Committee

MEETING MINUTES February 4. 2010

2010-02-04T21:00:00.000-08:00

Attendees: Portia Masterson, Barbara Sexton, Linda Williams, Marcia Buser (Note taker)

Agenda item: Rural Reflections Summit Moses Lake Mar 19^th & 20th

Discussion:

Identified the following Lyle people who want to attend

1) Barbara Sexton

2) Mildred Lykens

3) Risi Howard

4) Lisa Conway

5) Lorie Hull

6) Marcia Buser

Action items - Person responsible

Send form with everyone’s email and phone - Marcia

Gather photos to send for an ongoing slide show at the event - Lorie to send to Linda

Locate tri-fold showing Cultural Event to take

Agenda item: Upcoming Workshops of Interest

Linda reported on the following upcoming workshops:

§ March 11 in the morning. Pioneer Center in White Salmon. Someone from the US Census will talk about how to use census data for writing grants, etc.

§ Date and time to be established: 4 hour workshop on Rural Job Creation using the new economic tools such as e-commerce, broad band, etc.

§ April 22 – Transportation Summit at Pioneer Center in White Salmon. Focus on developing public transportation in Klickitat County. Cost is $35 and Horizons may be able to cover costs for attendees in the Horizons program.

Barbara reported on the following:

§ Feb 23^rd6:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Grant Writing for Beginners at Columbia High School. Class fee $15.00 and 6 students minimum. Instructor Leigh Hancock is a grant writer & consultant with over 25 years experience writing, teaching, & community education.

Registration: Leigh Hancock 509-493-3031 or leighbengt@gorge.net

Other Agenda items:

§ Linda will let us know when we can apply for the $10,000 grant

§ At the end of our Horizons program we will need to submit a report

Next Meeting Scheduled:

April 8, 2010

@ 6:45 PM at Lyle Activity Center

Lyle Horizons Steering Team Meeting Minutes

2009-12-12T17:33:00.000-08:00

December 10, 2009

Attendees: Portia Masterson, Julie Larson, Bob Hansen, Lori Hull, Sherri Starkin, Barbara Sexton, Mildred Lykens, Marcia Buser (Note taker), Vern Harpole, Roger Hull.

Agenda item: Updates from Linda

Discussion:

Lorie reported on these updates from Linda:

1) The $1500 for Lyle has to go through a non-profit so Linda is setting up paperwork for it to go to the 4H Leadership council and then it can be transferred to the CEKC. Expect in about a week.

2) Another statewide Horizons leadership workshop is being planned for March 19-20 in Moses Lake at Big Bend CC. We can send 6 people, more if other communities do not fill their allotments. No bus, but carpools will be arranged with gas vouchers available. Meals and rooms are covered. Specific workshops are not finalized but will compliment last year’s topics.

Barbara, Sherri, Don, Mildred, Lorie, Portia and Marcia are interested although some of us will gladly not go if it means some other people in our community can go in order to develop more community leaders. Other possible community members identified were Pam Essley, Risi Howard and some of our youths.

3) Local workshops: funds available to have 4 workshops locally in Feb-March. Possible topics include grant information and using census information for grant writing. Probably would have at least 2 of the workshops at the Lyle Activity Center.

4) How we are doing on the Horizons “Wheel.” Linda says we are right on track. Our action items were approved. We just need to keep work on them. Linda will have reports due and will let us know when.

Action items Person responsible

Send email to all Study Circle Participants to invite them to March 9-10 workshop Not yet assigned

Agenda item: Cultural Exchange

Discussion: Lorie was concerned that there are not enough people interested to make it happen as no one could meet last Monday. Jill Arens still wants to do it. Need enough people from Lyle involved. Planning meeting will be January 6, time to be determined. Group felt that there was enough interest.

Agenda item: Holiday Celebration

Discussion: Barbara said that help is needed to decorate the tree for Santa’s caravan of lights. She will send out an email when it will be as it is weather dependent. The Council also needs more volunteers to set up on Saturday, Dec 19 at 4:00 PM at the LAC.

Agenda item: What’s Different in Lyle thanks to Horizons

Discussion: Group debriefed some of the things that are different in Lyle than a year ago:

§ Better communication - Information on what is happening is sent on via email, posted on the Lyle website and the blog.

§ Can sit down and talk… and have things to talk about!

§ Getting things done.

§ We have established common values.

§ Have a building for a community center that could have just been a pile of rubble.

§ Brought long time residents together with newcomers.

§ Less apathy and disinterest.

§ Businesses are talking to each other, wineries have gotten together for their common benefit,

§ We can ask each other for support and get it.

§ More attendance at Community Council meetings

§ Lots more information in the Lyle newsletter.

§ Community is paying for the LAC and park water now.

Agenda item: Kiosk

Discussion: Still need some central spot for posting information on community happenings. Several spots discussed – the LAC, the rose bush by the Blue Building, the Klickitat Trailhead, the Lyle Merc. May be several and can include different sections like permanent information, ads for local businesses and services and event announcements.

Action items Person responsible

Check with Klickitat Co Tourism Board to find out status of their community kiosk project Vern

Agenda item: Tour de Fleur

Discussion: This idea started out as a fundraiser for the LAC, however it seems to be more of an economic stimulus activity for Lyle. So far 4 organizations have agreed to schedule hikes or bike rides out of Lyle that day: Friends of the Gorge, KTC, Native Plant Society and Portland Wheelman Touring Club (cyclists). Should follow the model of inviting vendors to set up at the LAC and charge a nominal fee, and have some modest fund raising activities at the LAC. The Horizons team was supportive of the Tour de Fleur as a way to promote Lyle and benefit local businesses.

The OLESS fundraising committee is meeting on Dec 15 and will discuss further. The committee is looking at a fundraising houseparty as a more effective way to raise money with less effort. Lisa, Bob and Marcia met with a woman in Mosier last week who did a houseparty and raised a significant amount for the Rowena Wildlife Clinic. They got a lot of good ideas from her. She followed the instructions in the book: The Fundraising Houseparty: How to Party with a Purpose and Raise Money for Your Cause by Morrie Warshawski

Agenda item: Supporting the Lyle Merc/Promoting Community Health

Discussion: Since becoming a county health officer, Vern has learned the benefits of a community garden and the elements required for success: a school, and economic stimulus and grocery store. There are a lot of positive health effects with a community garden.

Another part of this discussion revolved around ways we could buy groceries from the Merc that we now go to Hood River or The Dalles for on a weekly basis.

Action items Person responsible

See if there is a school faculty member interested in championing a community garden Vern

Talk to Cap and Lisa about selling com. garden produce, do custom ordering for community members Vern

Other topics:

§ Vern will see if Lyle Merc is still having issues with a homeless person

Next Meeting Scheduled:

February 4, 2010

@ 6:45 PM at Lyle Activity Center

Lyle Horizons Steering Team Meeting Minutes

2009-09-12T08:18:00.000-07:00

September 10, 2009

Attendees: Lorie Hull, Sherri Starkin, Barbara Sexton, Mildred Lykens, Marcia Buser, Vern Harpole, Linda Williams, Roger Hull, Portia Masterson, Austin Harvey, Bob Hansen.

Minutes

Discussion: What is the Steering Team Moving Forward

Lorie explained the role of the Steering Team related to the county-wide non-profit (CECK) and the other Horizon’s groups: OLESS, Cultural Exchange and future ones such as the community garden. The Steering Team functions as Lyle’s liaison to the CECK.

See Circle of Influence above – team defined mission, tasks, what we will be called as we move into the next phase. It was agreed that keeping the name Horizons was important for name recognition in the community.

Lyle Horizons = All Lyle Community members

Facilitators = All present, plus Glenda if she wishes

Assumptions/Constraints for Steering Team:

Meetings open to any Lyle Horizons member, however invite potential Facilitators

Facilitator positions:

Treasurer –Barbara

CECK Liaison – Lorie

Youth Liaison – Austin

Recorder – open

Presider – open

Members at Large - balance

Lyle Horizons Steering Team Meeting Minutes

2009-08-26T05:11:00.000-07:00

August 25, 2009

Attendees: Bob Hansen, Lori Hull, Sherri Starkin, Barbara Sexton, Mildred Lykens, Marcia Buser (Note taker), Vern Harpole, Linda Williams(Facilitator), Roger Hull. Not present: Julie Larson, Mindy Robison

Minutes

Agenda item: Survey Process Debrief

Discussion:

Debrief: Received 94 responses. People had a lot to say. Someone should take the surveys and capture who. See separate document with survey results.

Action items Person responsible

Capture names and contact info Marcia

Find out how people can be exempt of PUD increase Lorie

For newsletter: if people cannot afford a PUD increase for question #8 Vern

Write PUD to give them the results Barbara

Agenda item: Celebration Debrief

Discussion: Estimate that 200 people attended. Have heard many comments when are we going to do it again. We did not take advantage of the recruiting opportunity and we did not do so well at communicating why we were there. Can use newsletter to write up the reasons.

Skate competition played out nicely, with a cross generational exchange. Austin is writing an article for the newsletter that will include the participants’ name. Include link to blog video. Important to line up another event while there is still the good feeling. Lots of local talent, including youth to include.

Next time we should hand out tickets to keep track of headcount.

Agenda item: By Laws

Discussion: Barbara, Glenda and Lorie are working on policies and trying to make them consistent. Working on booking aspects.

Question about what is going to happen with the OLESS group, relationship to Activity Center and Horizons Steering Team. Need to determine how we are structured, will there be elected positions. Once school is saved, will OLESS still be in existence. Right now, Steering Committee is an umbrella and the keeper of the non-profit. Still a little grey, but may morph into something else. By doing county wide non-profit will give us more strength in numbers. Need to keep a core team to keep us going, people who have been involved from the beginning.

Important to formalize the core group, especially when dealing with money. Start thinking in that direction. Lorie recommended to start with mission and vision statement for OLESS before doing by-laws – passed out examples. .

Agenda item: Status of CEKC non-profit

Discussion: Officers have signed papers and are submitted to IRS. Next meeting will be here Thursday’s. Should have more information after that.

Agenda item: Strategic Poverty Reduction Plan

Discussion: see separate document with plan

Agenda item: September 3 Visit

Discussion: Northwest Area Foundation and WSU will send representatives. Could be about 50-75 people attending, plan food for 60. Use end room for food. Use middle room for displays, meeting and break out room. Set up video. Share what we have done in the community, hopefully there will be an opportunity to ask questions. Invite: school board, partners in events, representatives – both people who can provide testimonials as well as people we want to partner with.

Important to be able to tell the “Horizons Story.”

Action items Person responsible

Get about 50-60 chairs Vern

Invite other people: Wilbur, Jill, Michael - let Lorie know who has been invited Linda

Coordinate with Linda who is coming to get headcount Sherri

Fill out invoice for Lyle Hotel food Sherri

Work party to set up building – Saturday 8/29 at 9:00 OLESS Committee

Agenda item: Council Positions

Discussion: 2 positions will be open.

Ask Portia, Jack, person at Longhouse, Norm.

Other topics:

§ Planning another celebration – discuss at next meeting – to be a fundraiser

§ Visioning activity. – need to plan for steering committee. Critical to formalize our Steering Committee that consists of elected officers. Discuss at next steering team meeting.

§ Can apply for $1500 now from the $10,000 that we get from Horizons.

§ Do flu shots at OLESS ???

Next Meeting Scheduled:

September 10, 2009

@ 6:30 PM at Old Lyle Elementary School

LYLE HORIZONS STEERING TEAM MEETING MINUTES

2009-08-10T21:23:00.000-07:00

August 10, 2009
7:00 PM
Lyle Old Elementary School
Attendees: Bob Hansen, Lori Hull, Sherri Starkin, Barbara Sexton, Mildred Lykens (Facilitator), Marcia Buser (Note taker), Glenda Lovejoy, Linda Williams. Not present: Julie Larson, Vern Harpole, Mindy Robison

Agenda item: Survey Update
Discussion:
Debrief: Only negative reaction was someone concerned with asbestos in school building. Would be good to have an article in next newsletter that addressed those concerns. Newsletter deadline: Sept 20. Otherwise, everyone reported they were very positively received. Sherri will take surveys to senior lunch. Julie had not done hers yet – she won’t do it until Thursday. Linda said that Horizons has subscribed to Survey Monkey so in future can do that.

Action items
Bring up at next OLESS meeting to ask for building environmental issues article. Vern to put on agenda
Compile surveys in order to get our vision statement done by Sept 1
(see next meeting date) Sherri & Bob
Distribute Julie’s survey - 2:30 Tuesday. Lorie, Sherri, Marcia, (Pam?)
Print 50 more surveys to have for Friday’s event Marcia

Agenda item: August 14 Celebration Planning
Discussion:
Music – a 3 piece jazz and swing group. Music starts at 6:00. Would be good to have a trailer to set up for band. We’ll take turns staffing survey table.
Action items Person responsible
Check if Oren can bring extra power cords Barbara
Meet up at 4:30 at school to be ready to work! Everyone
Send out email to OLESS group to see if anyone has a trailer Marcia
Bring paper towels & toilet paper Mildred, Sherri
Ask Austin to organize skate demo or competition Lorie
Have sign-up sheets for various OLESS committees on post it Mindy
MC to welcome everyone, update on park, school and survey during band break Vern
Clarify with Vern if there is any desert being served Sherri
Investigate doing snow cones Lorie, Glenda
Other topics:

Linda provided the following updates:
 Putting in a grant to expand broadband. Grant is due on Friday, requires in kind.
 Commended us for the blog.
 On September 3, a representative from NW Area Foundation will be visiting Klickitat Co. Linda wants them to stop at Lyle, and show the Old Elementary of School. There will be an entourage of WSU and Horizons people, 8-10. Will be asking someone to arrange lunch. Wants to get a display from each Horizons community (9-10), a tri-fold showing what has been done in community. Might be about 50 people. Invite Jim Honeyford and other partners, such as Jill Arens.
 Workshop in November, dubbed “Rufus” in Seattle through the Annie Casey foundation, picked Washington to do a pilot for H2.
 Sherri has been trying to find out who to contact about moving Pepsi sign – waiting for phone call back.

Next Meeting Scheduled:
August 25th
@ 1:00 PM at Old Lyle Elementary School

LYLE HORIZONS STEERING TEAM MEETING MINUTES

2009-07-29T22:03:00.000-07:00

July 29, 2009
7:00 PM
Lyle Old Elementary School

Attendees: Bob Hansen, Lori Hull, Sherri Starkin, Don Starkin, Vern Harpole, Barbara Sexton, Mildred Lykens, Marcia Buser, Julie Larson, Glenda Lovejoy. Not present: Mindy Robison, Linda Williams

Agenda item: Survey Plan
Discussion:
Vern attended school board meeting. He reported to board about the formal OLESS meeting and organization, had a work party. Topic of insurance came up and Vern volunteered to research. They will appoint a person to be the school board lease committee by next meeting. They committed to paying the water bill until the end of the year.
Vern called Derrick Brian, ESD Insurance guy for Vancouver School District – they cover policies for 33 school district including Lyle. He is very familiar with this school district and facility. Will research and get back with Vern.
Proposal to attend community councils served by Lyle School district: Dallesport, Appleton, High Prairie. Will consider with OLESS. Community Enrichment for Klickitat County (CEKC).
Survey committee report- call it Lyle Community Visioning Survey. “Lease will be to a Lyle nonprofit community group.”
Finalized survey questions. Print in large print, 1 page front and back, and can add pages if needed.
Survey plan day on Vern – Lyle Snowden, Lori- S of Hwy 14, Bob – Old Hwy 8, Mildred - , Portia – Johnson Rd, Glenda – her street area.
Surveys will be kept in breezeway at Mildred’s. Need rubber bands.
Action items Person responsible
 Finalize and send survey & cover letter to Linda for printing – need 400 copies to drop off to Mildred (218 Klickitat) Bob
 Open gmail account LyleCommunity@gmail.com
Lori
 Send out email to group when surveys are ready to pick up and start Mildred
 Provide clip board of geographic areas to sign off when doing Marcia
 Meet at 9:00 at school to complete survey Everyone who is available
 Send celebration flyer to Marcia for cover letter Lori

Agenda item: August 14 Celebration Planning
Discussion:
Merchants are struggling with food. Band is lined up. Lori has posters made and put up around town.
Action items Person responsible
 Get bubbles Glenda
 Give merchants ideas for food Vern/Karen
Other topics:

Other topics
 Get Pepsi sign moved – Sherri will contact Pepsi to see if we can get it over here.

Next Meeting Scheduled:
August 10th
at 7:00 PM at Old Lyle Elementary School

LYLE HORIZONS STEERING TEAM MEETING MINUTES

2009-07-14T20:48:00.000-07:00

July 14, 2009

Facilitator: Barbara Sexton Note taker: Marcia Buser

Attendees: Linda Williams, Bob Hansen, Lori Hull, Sherri Starkin, Don Starkin, Vern Harpole, Barbara Sexton, Mindy Robison, Mildred Lykens, Marcia Buser . Not present: Julie Larson

Purpose: 2^nd meeting for Horizons Phase III: Community Visioning. During this phase, the Steering Team will involve the community in developing a Strategic Poverty Action Plan. This will involve surveying community members and sharing the results at a Horizons Community Celebration.

Minutes

Agenda item: Update on OLESS meeting of 7-13-09

Discussion:

Vern presented update on a very successful meeting. “Great interest and lively bunch of folks.” Vern will fix up sandwich board to post “OLESS Meeting Tonight.” Note: Minutes are posted at: http://lyleschoolbuilding.blogspot.com/

Agenda item: Lion’s Club Update

Discussion:

Vern will attend meeting first Monday of the month. Vern will let them know that we want to buy ten 1^st Saturday Breakfast tickets and ask if they want to contribute any for the raffle.

Agenda item: Survey Plan

Discussion:

Linda provided examples which have demographic-type questions, probably not the questions we need to ask. Sherri provided several questions. Issue of having KPUD paying water through bills. How do we communicate and get buy-in?

Do we want to have a special issue of To The Point newsletter before next schedules one on October 1? Vern dubbed it “More to The Point.” No actions determined on that “point.”

Selected Saturday, August 8 to do a Walk-About survey blitz. Meet at school at 9:00 AM. Steering Team needs to recruit as many others as possible, especially since we want to include all household within the Lyle Fire District.

Vern brought up that 3 people have reported to him that kiteboarders have started being fined $1000 for crossing the railroad to the spit. Requested a question on the survey regarding access to the spit.

Action items:

ü Ask School Board what their thoughts are on getting KPUD to disperse water bill to community - Vern

ü Based on Vern’s response at school board: Get on Community Council agenda to see if we can get community support. Have Terry Mills present – Steering Team will be there to support. -Barbara

ü Subcommittee will develop survey questions and send out to group to review by July 28 - Bob, Lori, Sherri

Agenda item: August 14 Celebration Planning

Discussion:

Barbara contacted music combo from The Dalles – can provide music, jazz, swing. Their minimum prices is $200.

Vern reported all 4 merchants were very responsive to helping with the effort. Each will get $250, Rose will coordinate with Merc, Tap Room, Hotel and Café. Estimate for 250 people.

Action items:

ü See how merchants get part of money up-front & let Vern know - Linda

ü Line up music - Barbara

ü Publicity/newspaper - Karen Harpole

ü Posters, maybe banners. Get up as soon as possible - Lori

ü Replace Cultural Event sign with painted sign – will investigate and do if possible - Mindy

Other topics:

Discussion on getting some high school kids involved in planning. Long term need to have more diversity on Steering Team Board
Mindy offered to set up a Game Night

Next Meeting Scheduled:

July 29 (or 30^th if Julie can’t make it on the 29^th)

at 7:00 PM at Old Lyle Elementary School

(no food this time)

Lyle's Horizons Steering Team Meeting Minutes July 9, 2009

2009-07-14T09:35:00.000-07:00

Attendees: Linda Williams, Bob Hansen, Lori Hull, Sherri Starkin, Vern Harpole, Barbara Sexton, Marcia Buser (notetaker). Not present: Mindy Robison, Mildred Lykens, Julie Larson

Purpose: 1^st meeting for Horizons Phase III: Community Visioning. During this phase, the Steering Team will involve the community in developing a Strategic Poverty Action Plan. This will involve surveying community members and sharing the results at a Horizons Community Celebration.

Minutes:

1. Discussion & Decisions:

a. Visioning Process:

Must involve at least 15% of the community. We will do a door-to- door survey, and include not only town, but Old Hwy 8, Canyon Road, Centerville Hwy, Hwy 142 to a designated mileage from Lyle.

Survey should include about 5 questions that are relevant to our Horizons projects.

We will need volunteers to survey assigned areas & handout flyers for Horizons Community Celebration (item 1.c.). Survey plan to be developed at next meeting July 14^th – see at end of minutes. May include doing a prize drawing raffle for those completing the survey.

Include other active Horizons participants to help out with survey. They are also welcome to attend Steering Team meetings as non-voting members.

b. Strategic Poverty Action Plan:

Must be submitted by September 1^st. Since we are already doing so many of the items, and more, that came out of our Study Circles and Community Forum, we just need to capture them in a plan that includes:

§ Action plan description (What’s the project & why its important)

§ How will this address poverty?

§ Who is involved & their contact information

§ Action steps, including who is responsible and due dates

§ Indicators of success

The Steering Team will write this plan together via email – see related action items below.

c. Horizons Community Celebration:

Planned for Friday, August 14 at 5:30 PM – see related action items below & agenda for next Steering Team Meeting July 14 at end of minutes.

2. Action Items from this Meeting:

a. Visioning Process:

ü Linda – send examples of other communities’ surveys

ü All Steering Team members – submit ideas for survey to Marcia

ü Marcia – draft survey based on ideas submitted

ü Marcia – check on availability of a good county map to use for survey assignments

b. Strategic Poverty Action Plan:

ü Linda – Provide update on budget for Phase III activities (estimated $1500)

ü Linda – investigate setting up workshops for us on grant writing & fundraising, and other possible workshops.

ü Marcia – draft template for plan

ü All Steering Team – help finalize after survey results are compiled.

c. Horizons Community Celebration:

ü Vern – approach Tap Room, Lyle Hotel, Country Café about catering August 14 Celebration

ü Lori – draft flyer for celebration

ü Barbara – check with nephew for live music

d. Other Action Items:

ü Bob - contact Gorge Net for possible wi-fi hot spot at school & report at OLESS meeting on July 13.

ü Lori – make flyers & post for OLESS meeting on Monday July 13.

ü Vern – approach Lion’s Club to see if he can give updates on Horizons activities and create a better partnership with them

ü Linda – send out information on upcoming food preservation class (?July 27?)

ü Marcia – will serve as point of contact for Steering Team

Next Steering Team Meeting:

Tuesday, July 14 - 6:00 PM at Old Elementary School

(Potluck dinner meeting)

Agenda:

§ Update on OLESS meeting (Vern)

§ Celebration Planning (all)

§ Survey Plan – final draft & implementation plan (all)

§ Lion’s Club update (Vern)