The Boulder Area Chamber of Commerce
proudly Sponsors
The 1st Annual Country Music & Art Festival in Boulder
Saturday, September 13th 2008 in Veterans Park
11AM-7PM
Music Headliners
Ruf Cut Grass
Erik “Fingers” Ray
Ron Kane & Meghan Merker
Lynn Marie & the Wobbly Boy
* area musicians * local artists * food vendors
Family Friendly Event
Contact Colleen 465-8589 or Cristina 465-2106
On April 10, 16 pre-registered participants attended the initial training at Jefferson High School for community citizens to look at problems affecting the community. The trainings continued over several weeks and included a diverse group of participants. Skills that were developed and enhanced included looking at problems affecting the community, seeing them from different perspectives, sharing opinions as well as solutions and projects that would greatly impact the community.
One of the participants that completed this training, Jason Craft, son of Boulder Chamber of Commerce Members Gerald & Carmen Craft, went on to develop the idea for a Skateboard Park in Boulder. Jason and supporters created a plan of action that included the following success; surveying youth in the community; acquiring approval of the Jefferson County Commissioners and Boulder City Council for donation of land to build the park on; skateboard park members attended a Horizons sponsored Grant Writing workshop and received 2 grant awards after this; rallied ongoing volunteers and supporters to form partnerships to achieve the skateboard park dream.
The recent Pancake Breakfast fund raiser for the Skateboard Park in Veterans Park was a complete success. Many of the participants were happy to be nourished, prior to partaking in the Chamber of Commerce City Wide Garage Sale. Matching funds for the grants are continuing to grow as is community excitement in completion of this project.
“The committee dealing with resources and services for the Boulder community have been very active in researching and talking to the appropriate people to get much needed services back into the community. Boulder seems to have been forgotten by the state and this dedicated group of individuals have decided that the people in the Boulder community are not going to be forgotten! “
BCDO has stepped forward to reach out to the community. First a Community Resource Guide was developed and published by Jan Anderson of the Boulder Monitor. It listed 23 active Boulder Area committees partnering for change within the community. The resource guide includes the original Horizons vision focus strategies, actions, solutions, time lines, and supporting resources. It is available at the Boulder Monitor and is called Connection the Community, a Human Resource Guide for Boulder Residents complete with community county state and national listings. A tri-county area directory is included. The Horizon’s Partnership list is included to link leaders, groups and organizations to residents that may require services.
On June 18th, a workshop was held taking action to increase awareness and bring Helena resources closer to the town of Boulder. It encouraged community leaders to assist needy residents to complete complicated government forms and remove the stigma of asking for help.
Leaders were updated on resources and contacts available from Lewis and Clark Co. This will be one of many actions to effectively close the gap identified between services not perceived as available and their impact on the poverty levels within the community.
Randy McGinnis the new Jefferson County Prevention Officer is supported by a 2-year grant to identify and reduce underage and binge drinking in Jefferson County. A recent meeting held June 23 presented workbook data reflecting Jefferson High School, county, state statistics relating to alcohol consumption. This data will provide direction on a plan of action for the community to affect change. A large group of volunteers has committed to embrace this plan of action by creating a new awareness in the community. For more information call Randy McGinnis at 461-4403 or rmcginnis@jeffco.mt.gov.
Wobbly Boy Productions was invited to bring music to the Tizer Garden Fairy and Wizard Festival on Sat June 28. And indeed they did. Lynn Price and Dusty Farnum provided music for all ages and dancing was encouraged with a little help from Western Fairy God Mother Connie Grenz.
Students from the Boulder 21st Century Community Learning Center led and participated in craft activities, a dance presentation, and sold goods they had made including jams, breads, cookies, salsa, and crafts. the summer program classes have given them opportunities to learn the above skills as well as gardening, marketing, business, and finances. These additional skills will help them take action withing their community and reduce poverty long range. The proceeds from this festival were donated to the Boulder 21st Century Community Learning Center to sustain this program after the grant has expired. Tizer Gardens, and other Boulder Chamber of Commerce members partnered with the BDCO Education Committee and 21st CCLC for a successful event 
How could your Boulder Community Group use this blog? Let me count the ways…
1. Create a web page (free) and post your meeting minutes (Look to the right ==>)
2. Start a discussion here that you think will dominate an entire meeting and have the discussion online, on the blog, instead, then recap the discussion at the face-to-face meeting.
3. Publicize the wonderful work your group is doing by making your group’s affairs public.
4. Post pictures of your group having so much fun that others are compelled to join you.
5. You can use the blog in any way that benefits your community group. Your imagination is all that is limiting you.
How do you learn to blog? Contact the Connie or Daryl Grenz 225-3288.
The Boulder Community Development Organization is now officially an organization! After several months of organizing and getting by laws and purposes into place, the temporary board turned it over to the permanent board. Officers were elected and everyone became familiar with the role of the group. There was a lot of enthusiasm and even after many, many meetings of various committees, which expanded participation of community members and the busyness of our daily lives and the temptation of summer time activities, the new board agreed we needed to continue to meet and not take a break. So the next meeting will be July 1st—the first Tuesday of the month and will be held at the United Methodist Fellowship Hall. The meetings will be posted on the blog,community calender, and in the local newspaper to encourage many of the public sector to attend. Brainstorming is always better when many minds meet together! Consideration is being given to becoming a part of the Montana Foundation Association, the first step in creating a Boulder Community Foundation. The Boulder Community Development Organization is a concrete step to reduce poverty, keep the Horizon spirit and enthusiasm alive!
1. Tara Mastel Says: June 6th, 2008 at 2:40 pm edit
I am happy to sit on this board as an ex-officio (I am the extension agent working in economic and community development in this county). It was a great meeting. People come and give their time who are truly interested in the progress of the community.
The handbooks that were prepared were exceptional. They have all the background and copies of the resource guide that the resource committee put together. Very thorough and useful. A great start to an organization that is sure to be long-lived.
ANIMAL SHELTER The City of Boulder will have an animal shelter. Thanks to much work by citizens who have formed a Spay & Neuter/Animal Shelter Committee headed by Charlene Hall. Preceded by three spay and neuter clinics sponsored by The Montana Spay and Neuter Task Force . The community is looking forward to the fourth clinic this fall. Pat Cansler, Horizon participant
The Spay and Neuter Clinics involved participants from many organizations. Horizons community action groups played a role in supporting the clinics, but it was the diversity of representatives from other groups that helped put it into action. To put it in the public eye, the Boulder Monitor, the sign at the Boulder Fitness Club, the Chamber of Commerce encouraged businesses to put up posters and reminded people to make appointments. The City Council was supportive each time it was addressed and helped to identify locations which were efficient and of easy access for all involved. Even the See and Save, our local thrift shop donated rags for the clinic.
COMMUNITY EDUCATION An educational task force has been developed whose purpose is to provide educational services to the people of Boulder, both adult and students. Efforts have been combined with the Heritage Center, 21st CCLC and the Horizon groups. The goal is to provide educational opportunities to all community members working towards assisting the low income population and the total Boulder community. Work on restoring the Heritage Center is ongoing, preserving our history, and providing tours of Jefferson County to educate the public. Educational workshops for adults on parenting have been provided. There is an ongoing effort to work with the 21st Century after school program to provide low income parents and students with educational opportunities.
BEAUTIFICATION programs have changed the face of Boulder. These are a few of the members of different committees who have been involved: Mary Ellen Earnhardt( 21st CCLC Education Committee), Ellen Rae Thiel (Image and event committee), Denise Grove (Image and event committee) and Nancy Alley (education, image and event committees)</font Sally Houtchins is an active community member who has worked hard to keep one stretch of the street weed free and clean.
BOULDER FARMER’S MARKET marks 3rd year! Opening on June 7th with a growing membership list and meeting new requirements in many areas.
JEFFERSON BROADBAND The City of Boulder and community members have developed Jefferson Broadband in town. This is a very good thing since we are so far way from the nearest major city that has broadband.
DIFFERENT KINDS OF PEOPLE PARTICIPATING The Actions of the Horizons have reached their tentacles into many different areas of the Boulder Community. We are pleased that there are many different kinds of people joining the growing number of committees taking part in stimulating our community growth. Emily Mathiason-Gail Lattin-Colleen Teeling, Horizon participants
NEW PEOPLE GETTING INVOLVED There are people involved in helping to build our community that are coming from all sectors of the community. Some of them I (Jan) had never or rarely had seen at any public meetings in over 25 years of newspaper reporting in this community. There are business people, school people, professionals, retirees, shift workers, and many different types of people involved. The community says thanks more than it ever has and seems to appreciate the efforts put in, even when the results may not quite reach the lofty goals. By using community workshops, we have recruited and trained many new leaders. The community is quicker to recognize that a wide range of input produces a better result. —Gary Craft, BCDO, and Jan Anderson, publisher and BHAB
MORE PEOPLE TAKING ACTIONMore people are participating on committees and action groups. Awareness of our local art and crafts organizations that haven’t had the exposure are now coming together for discussion.
NEW NEEDS IDENTIFIED BCDO, seeing a need for Cultural/Art Events, is encouraging the development of a new committee made up of members from the artist community. The purpose of this group may be to develop and encourage art and cultural events and to develop a venue for artists and craftsmen to display.Dick Norden, BCDO, JLDC, Horizon participantSally Buckles, City Council, EMTDawn Smartnick, local bank, Horizon participant
EARLY BEGININGS OFFER OPPORTUNITIES I believe that leadership training and experience began with the initial study circles. It offered an opportunity for everyone’s voice to be heard and ideas to begin to form. I liked that what progressed from there in the horizon program contributed to everyone having an opportunity to learn and take leadership roles as they found their own personal interest. I know I have learned a lot and gained confidence as I learned through this program.Celia Wolny steering committee member
LEADERSHIP PLENTY PLANTS SEEDS25 people joined and completed Leadership plenty. More people are involved with leadership. As a matter of fact, the Boulder Community Development Org has several members that attended the Leadership training. There is more involvement of different sectors because there is more awareness to involve more groups of people. We believe that it is very difficult to always involve all the sectors because of life situations but there is definitely more thought in involving more people.Gerold Craft Pres Parks & Rec CommitteeCarmen Craft Chamber Pres, Steering Committee Member, business ownerBarb Reiter, steering committee memberCheryl Haasaker Parks & rec committee member
1. Tara Mastel Says: June 6th, 2008 at 2:48 pm edit
Just a quick comment on these entries. Boulder has done some amazing things over the past 18 months. But it was run completely by community volunteers. They wanted to be independant of the extension office to get a sense of empowerment over their future. It worked great thanks to a core group of dedicated volunteers and a large number of community members who were open minded enough to give this whole thing a try.
Blogging was a skill not learned by all. The community decided to have a “Blog-in” where everyone came to give input to what they had experienced in the 12 key objectives of the Horizon’s program.
What a fun event — 20-25 excited people arrived to give their two cents about how the community has been impacted over the past year an a half. So this is what you see on the previous posts. Thanks to the folks in Bozeman that posted it. People had so much fun, and the awareness was raised that we hope more and more folks will add their two cents to this blog from here on out.
On June 9th, Community members representing the 23 dedicated Horizon Committees met at the Ranch House Bakery for several hous to provide feedback on the 18 month Horizon Project.They answered Question 11 regarding: Taking Action on Community. The answers appear below.
MORE PEOPLE INVOLVED WITH DIFFERENT PROJECTS The projects are a skateboard park, a new Parks & Rec committee, a community resource guide, and more community events are happening. This will help low income because so many of these individuals can not travel to Helena or Butte to get needed services.A new Committee has been formed to bring all the committees together so that people are working together and not repeating the same things. This will also allow people to volunteer for things they are not aware of.Gerold Craft president of Parks & Rec Committee Carmen Craft Boulder Chamber of Commerce president
MORE AWARE OF OUR NEEDS We are more aware of our needs and have had a chance to work with everybody to set goals together. It seems that we are all working together to decrease the level of poverty.More people are helping us with our 21st CCLC program, farmers market, tour business.We are not only a community but a team!!! I see more groups working together,the animal shelter, has worked with the 21st CCLC the Heritage Center has worked with all groups in improving the image and restoring the history of Boulder, The skate park has worked with the school and the 21st CCLC. When applying for grants we all try to assist each otherEllen Rae Thiel, Nancy Alley, Mary Ellen Earnhardt, Denise Grove
MORE AWARE OF HAPPENINGS Boulder is more aware of what was happening in the community and has established new parameters for new programs coming into being. Some new non-profit organizations have been formed and have created partnerships with neighboring communities- SpaY and Neuter and Animal Shelter Committee works with Whitehall; Parks and Recreation works with Century 21 in grant writing for funds. Cheryl Haasakker, Skateboard Park Chair, Pat Cansler, Animal Shelter Committee, Barb Reiter, Horizon Steering Committee
MORE PEOPLE ARE INVOLVED THAN EVER BEFORE with some people getting to know new folks through the Horizons effort. A woman who came to the community very much down on her luck a couple of years ago received help at that time and was thrilled to hear that the community was working to make it easier for people to find out about resources in the human services area. “Can I join that committee,” she asked, and she did join and contributed useful information. The human resources guide and the effort to inform people about human resources service opportunities has opened the eyes of many. Partnerships: BCDO, BHAB, BACC, working with Whitehall on county animal shelter. Human resources providers working in Helena have been clearly informed that we expect them to provide services in our community, since they are funded with federal and state funds to serve our community. —Gary Craft and Jan Anderson
A STRUCTURE THAT WAS CREATED TO HELP OUR COMMUNITY COMMUNICATE BETTER AND TO BE BETTER INFORMED ABOUT WHAT IS AVAILABLE IN THE COMMUNITY IS OUR BOULDER COMMUNITY PHONE BOOK. EMILY MATIASON-GAIL LATTIN-COLLEEN TEELING
MORE PEOPLE KNOW EACH OTHER THAN BEFORE There are more individuals involved. The involvement has not looked at individuals by income level but by what they want to contribute. A Boulder Community Development Organization was formed by all of the committees which organized because of the Horizons Program. One or two individuals from each committee have been elected to sit as board members of this new organization. There is a new community phone book which was organized and produced by the Boulder Chamber.One if the best things that has occurred since the Horizon’s program is that when you walk down the street, more people know each other than before.A public meeting is scheduled for June 18 to teach people how to reach out to low income and present services available and how to fill out applications to take advantage of the services. Reaching out and involving low income people is a continual process with our committees.Sally Buckles, Dick Norden, Dawn Smartnick
DIVERSITY The Horizons Program has brought together a diverse group of folks who have continued to work together on various projects: such as Animal Shelter, Headstart Program, Parks and Recreation and a committee working to bring back Human and Social Services to Boulder. The excitement and pride in our community is once again alive and well. Pat Cansler, Animal Shelter Committee Cheryl Haasakker, Chair of Skateboard Park and former City Council Member Barb Reiter, Chamber of Commerce and Steering Committee
COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION Over 85 people participated in the study circles listing the strengths and assets of our community. Many remarked on how surprised they were of the extent of resources in the community. People are more open to meeting with different types of people – no more cliques, a willingness to get together with each other to accomplish goals. Better ability to listen to different opinions. We did not really learn about other communities like ours because we were so busy learning about our own, but we did learn a lot about what we have to offer and where we can go to get services. We published a community resource guide, which was also summarized in the local phone book, to inform people about human services available in our community and from other communities. We encouraged the city to meet with Midwest Assistance, which they did, to discuss funding options for our water and sewer projects. — Gary Craft, Boulder Community Development Organization, Jan Anderson, Boulder Monitor publisher and Boulder Housing Advisory Board, and Linda Norden, Realtor, Steering committee chair and BCDO
INDIVIDUALITY With the diverse number of people that participated in Horizons, each individual brings their own ideas and strengths to the project. An example of this is that a High School student has committed himself to the Skateboard Park. This young man has no desire or love of skateboarding but feels that the youth of Boulder needs “something to do” He has in fact headed the committee, something that he has never done before. This committee has been approved by City Hall & has also received some grant monies to help complete the project.Gerold Craft, Pres of Boulder parks & Rec committeeCarmen Craft Chamber Pres, Horizon Steering Committee member, business owner
COMMUNICATION Since the Horizons program began communications in the community seem to have improved. Everyone seems to be working towards one goal, improving poverty in the community both emotional and financial. Benches built and set along the sidewalks of main street have allowed people of all ages to sit and enjoy each others company and conversation while enjoying looking at the beautiful flags along the main street.Mary Ernhardt, 21st CCLC, Nancy Alley, education & image & events committee, Ellen Rae Thiel, image & event committee, Denise Grove, image & event committee