Columbus, MT

The Columbus Horizons Steering Committee was very appreciative of Cathy Cooney’s time as she presented information on Community Foundations. Cathy Cooney attended a meeting of the Steering Committee that included Stillwater County Commissioner, Dennis Hoyem, on February 15, 2008. The committee had the opportunity to ask questions and find direction in moving forward to getting a Community Foundation for the Town of Columbus off the ground. Cathy’s excitement and passion for the organizations definitely influenced and motivated the committee. The committee concluded that this would be a great opportunity and direction in creating a self sustainable source of funding for the Town of Columbus. The funding would be a great asset to many poverty reduction projects and guide to involving all socio-economic classes in the community.

http://columbus.communityblogs.us/2008/06/30/horizons-steering-committee-seeks-guidance-from-cathy-cooney-of-the-montana-community-foundation/

The Columbus Horizon’s Steering Committee initiated several conversations across the community to involve several organizations and key players in the Horizons process. The committee felt that this was necessary in order to make the Horizons project thrive in our community. Too often in small communities such as Columbus, new projects are seen as efforts that come and go with little to no impact. Sharing the opportunity that existed through Horizons was very important. Many of the organizations were those that we felt could help us involve all socio-economic classes and bring more awareness to our committee about eliminating the barriers that exist for those in poverty. The following are dates of meetings that were held across the community.

http://columbus.communityblogs.us/2008/06/30/horizons-collaborations/

The results are in! Your voice has been heard! Because of such positive results of the spring afterschool survey, the Columbus Horizons Afterschool Committee is proceeding to have an exciting afterschool program hopefully in place by this fall.

The vision of the program is:

To provide an afterschool program that helps the youth of our community to overcome risk factors by providing them the tools that will allow them to make healthy life choices.

The mission statement of the program is:

To provide youth of this community with enriching activities, guidance and skills in a safe environment which will enable them to lead productive, healthy lives. We will address risk factors associated with poverty to allow youth to thrive, prosper and grow.

For the purpose of our mission, as was the Horizon’s Project, poverty is not only limited to financial issues. Poverty encompasses the lack of adequate emotional, mental and spiritual support systems as well as relationships with positive role models.

Joey Hegstrum, the Executive Director of the Stillwater Community Coalition and Sharon Diane, Prevention Specialist with the Stillwater Tobacco Use Prevention Program, have agreed to serve as co-coordinators with the Stillwater Community Coalition serving as the fiscal program using their 501(C)3 status.

Volunteers will be needed for such activities as the following:
sharing your talents by teaching a short hands-on enrichment activity or craft; helping kids with their homework; supervising recreation; serving a snack; heading up a fundraiser for the afterschool program; etc.

Immediate plans include negotiations for securing a location for the program, deciding on the dates/times, and conducting a contest for the after school program’s name. Contest deadline is July 31. Details of the contest will be in the Stillwater County News and at the Stillwater County Fair July 23-25.

Tentative plans are to target grades 3-5 and to conduct the program from 3:00 to 5:30 p.m. The program will be held three to five days a week, depending on the facility and the number of volunteers.

The program is looking for volunteers for the areas described above.
If you would like to volunteer for the afterschool program, please contact Joey at 322-5228 or Sharon at 322-4296 or you may pick up application forms at the Stillwater County Extension Office located on the ground floor of the courthouse, 400 E 3rd Ave N, (322-8035).

http://columbus.communityblogs.us/2008/06/27/after-school-program-update/

The Beautification Committee came about as a result of the Horizon’s Study Circles that were held in 2007. Most of the comments from these groups were centered around a feeling that Columbus looked uncared for, neglected and poor when you drive into town. There were areas that needed to be cleaned up and improved, our main street looked neglected and inactive and more Welcome signage was needed at the entrances to town to welcome visitors and invite them to stop and shop.

Several projects were proposed. Among the suggestions were cleaning up the downtown, uncovering the sidewalk on the park side of the street, renovating storefronts, creating a park in the empty lot on Pike and 5th Streets, a “Come into Columbus” sign on I-90 at the Springtime Road exit to bring them into the downtown business district and signage at other entrances to Columbus.

We felt that it is important to develop a brand for the town–something that is unique to the area, will distinguish us and be used on everything from signs to brochures. In order to develop this we needed to partner with the city. During this time the city approved funding for the National Historic Preservation Main Street program. We felt with that it would be a good fit with our goals as a Beautification Committee. We see that our other goals will need more involvement, are more long term and by being active in the Main Street program we can accomplish this together. Other people have been independently working on some of the same ideas, such as the Pike and 5th Street lot development and we will be able to achieve more if we all work together. As a result of Horizon’s meetings and discussions some of those people have now joined the Beautification Committee.

Our first goal was to restore the things that we already have in place that were good. We received a grant from Horizon’s to restore the Welcome sign at the corner of 9th and Diamond Streets and replant the planter box underneath it. The sign was taken down, repaired and repainted. The posts were shortened to give it better proportions and making it easier to read. We took out all of the planting that were in the planter box, removed the old dirt and replaced it with new soil. New shrubs, landscape roses and a collection of red tulips were planted. This was a good beginning project-not too big or complex and involved a lot of volunteers. The result was a bright, shiny welcome to our town.

Our second project was the renovation of the large Columbus sign in Rail Road Park on Pike Avenue. We needed to replace the reader board, buy new letters and a new face panel. Thru a Horizon’s grant, and by partnering with the Columbus Community Action Network, we were able to purchase a new board, new tracks, letters and a new face panel and add a fourth line so the messages can be more complete. We will be able to repaint the upper portion of the sign this summer, using paint left from the small welcome sign that has the same Columbus logo. This sign, in the center of downtown, is a community bulletin board, promoting events of community organizations in Columbus. Political and commercial messages are not allowed unless it is for an event and not for political candidates or to promote sales.

We continue to focus on the transforming the appearance of our town into a prosperous community and one that we can take pride in.

http://columbus.communityblogs.us/2008/06/27/final-horizons-beautification-committee-report/

At the Freedom Celebration and the Stillwater County Fair in July 2007 and at each of the farmers’ markets, the Columbus Horizons Steering Committee received volunteer signatures for the mentoring reading program with the elementary school. The Horizons Mentoring Committee submitted the names, phone numbers and addresses of the reading volunteers to the elementary principal in the fall of the year to be used for either reading to the students or the students reading to the adults.

The study circles on poverty suggested a parent mentoring program, but there was no interest from parents in the community. Thus, the Horizons Mentor Committee has turned its attention to another priority from the study circles and from LeadershipPlenty® classes, an afterschool program for children. After sending out surveys through the school, the committee received 160 responses to the surveys. Joey Hegstrum, the Executive Director of the Stillwater Community Coalition and Sharon Diane, Prevention Specialist with the Stillwater Tobacco Use Prevention Program have agreed to serve as co-coordinators with the Stillwater Community Coalition serving as the lead agency.

The Horizons Mentor Committee is proceeding to fight poverty through their mission and vision statements. The mission statement of the program is as follows: Our goal is to provide youth of this community with enriching activities, guidance and skills in a safe environment which will enable them to lead productive healthy lives. We will address risk factors associated with poverty to allow youth to thrive, prosper and grow. For the purpose of our mission, as was the Horizon’s Project, poverty is not only limited to financial issues. Poverty encompasses the lack of adequate emotional, mental and spiritual support systems as well as relationships with positive role models. The vision statement of the program is as follows:

To provide an afterschool program that helps the youth of our community to overcome risk factors by providing them the tools that will allow them to make healthy life choices.

The target is to have an operational program by this fall.

http://columbus.communityblogs.us/2008/06/26/horizons-accomplishments-mentoringafter-school-program/

The Horizons study circles on poverty brought forth the idea that there needs to be a means to fight financial poverty through the opportunity for supplemental income. The farmers’ market provides such an avenue for sellers at the farmers’ market. Also, through the discount for youth sellers, young people have a way to supplement their income as well and to help them learn how to become responsible, productive adults.

A successful farmers’ market was held each Thursday afternoon in August and the first two Thursdays in September 2007. An estimated 250 to 300 persons attended each week.

Based on the success of last year’s market, which began as an August-only event and was then extended into September, the 2008 Columbus Farmers’ Market will begin in mid-July and run until mid-September. It will once again take place on Thursday afternoons in Railroad Park, beginning July 24th and running through September 11th. The farmers’ market committee hopes to welcome back most, if not all, of last year’s sellers and add to add several more. Again, the targeted items for the market will be fresh garden produce, eggs, plants, baked goods, preserves, etc. Local musicians provided music for many of the farmers’ markets in 2007, and are expected to return in 2008. Picnic tables will once again be available for people to sit and socialize. In rural Montana, the farmers’ market will be an avenue to help fight social poverty by providing support systems. Also, it is planned to have a vendor present at most of the markets to sell food suitable for the dinner hour. Registration forms and health rules are currently available at the Stillwater Extension Office, located in the Courthouse. The contact person, Marcia, may also be contacted at 321-1377 for further information.

http://columbus.communityblogs.us/2008/06/26/horizons-accomplishments-farmers-market/

Columbus developed a blog, sponsored by Horizons. Columbus High School student, Lara Strickland, has been maintaining that blog and reporting on the successes of Columbus Horizons. The url is http://columbus.communityblogs.us/.

http://columbus.communityblogs.us/2008/06/26/horizons-accomplishments-communication/

From the visioning event came the realization for the need to establish a community foundation to capture wealth in the community so that grants could be distributed to sustain Columbus as a thriving community. A kick-off event was hosted by Kent & Pam Williams on May 13, 2008. As a result, donations toward the endowment have continued to come in for a total of $20,150 as of this writing. The decision was made to affiliate with the Montana Community Foundation, as they have many benefits. Another fund raising event for the Columbus Community Foundation will be scheduled in the fall. Currently, to become a self-sustaining entity, the Columbus Community Foundation is forming a diverse board and considering non-profit status application. The Montana Community Foundation has provided two $2,500 matching grants that will be granted to non-profit organizations in Columbus.

http://columbus.communityblogs.us/2008/06/26/horizons-accomplishments-community-foundation/

In 2007, the Horizons Steering Committee distributed “flags” at community events. The “flag” theme was decided upon for the Freedom Celebration. Each of these “flags” displayed a different question regarding the Columbus Community. The flags were a great success and the Horizons Steering Committee continued to distribute them at the county fair, each of the farmers’ markets, and some of the businesses in the community. This medium facilitated the opportunity for people to visualize the assets and challenges of the Columbus community that were discussed in each of the six Study Circles Meetings. A history map was also completed by a variety of residents in Columbus during the 100th year celebration for the community. This map detailed great events in the history of Columbus to be utilized in the Community Visioning Process.

Columbus community needed to have input from 270 residents in order to meet the Horizons threshold and to have a successful visioning event in the fall of 2007. In all, 295 residents gave input, which was compiled and used in the visioning event on October 14, 2007, where participants developed a vision statement for Columbus in 2020:

Columbus is a safe, progressive community that values its people and honors and preserves its history. Its character is reflected in its active community involvement, youth development, and the support of a self-sustaining business environment. Columbus is a place where all community members can thrive, prosper, and grow.

http://columbus.communityblogs.us/2008/06/26/horizons-accomplishments-visioning/

In March and April, eighteen LeadershipPlenty® classes were offered in Columbus to help equip citizens for community leadership.

http://columbus.communityblogs.us/2008/06/26/horizons-accomplishments-leadership-classes/