Gackle, ND

We have a new strategic plan, we have ideas and we have dreams but we seem to have lost the energy. Where did it go?

Recent blog entries and local newspaper articles have shown the realities of Gackle’s woes. What is not apparent on the surface is that many basic services have been propped up over the years or have had benefactors to support their continuation. Those means are drying up. The cafe is struggling, the pool might not open, the sewers are failing and lots of other major issues. Everybody who is currently volunteering is overburdened and there doesn’t seem to be any new “troops.” It’s hard to get excited about the strategic goals of beautifying the town or continuing education when we have such large concerns.

Reacting to the situation a core group of concerned Horizons volunteers met recently to discuss the situation. Jodi Bruns from NDSU extension also attended. What we learned is that we are not alone and the situation is similar in most small towns. It seems there are ebbs and flows in the process of revitalization and we are experiencing the ebb. Jodi suggested prioritizing the major issues, identifying local leaders best able to “rally-the-troops” and asking them personally to take leadership for the tasks ahead. The reality is that people won’t respond to a simple “call to volunteer” printed in the newspaper. So a personal call based on a complementary marriage of leader and task is the best option.

But a thing we realized during the course of discussion was that we have done a lot and the Horizons process has fomented positive changes within our community. So while we all wish things would move more forward quickly we now understand that a “pat-on-the-back” is also in order and patience and dedication will win the battle ahead.

We would like to hear from other communities out there who are experiencing similar ebbing energy and we would like to hear if anybody has any ideas about keeping the energy and enthusiasm flowing during this process. Any comments would be appreciated!

On Thursday, April 10, Carmen Rath-Wald, NDSU Extension Agent from Logan County, visited the Gackle school. She held two learning sessions beginning at 9 AM with K, 1, 2, & 3 and at 10:15 AM with 4, 5, & 6. She Showed the VHS videos, Using the Telephone and Know How to Call, which she had borrowed from BEK Telephone Cooperative. She gave the Kindergarten and 1st graders a two sided coloring sheet, one with emergency vehicles on the backside with telephones and a telephone book. 2nd and 3rd graders made a book titled, Using the Telephone, and 4, 5, and 6th graders completed and discussed questions on two quizzes about telephone usage. Carmen also distributed a letter to parents about what they had learned and encouraged them to review with their children, their address, phone number, how to use the telephone, and also to encourage them to consider attending a basic first-aid class with their child.