Gackle, ND

I was finally able to get a video uploaded of Tom Isern reading the Horizons limericks. Unfortunately it doesn’t have every verse but it shows great enthusiasm for the process. Go back and check it out on the January 29th Blog post. After a bit more practice I was able to get the “cheer” video edited — click the link below.

The “cheerleaders” shown in the video are Gackle’s own mayor Ritchie Jacobson and Peggy Schroeder, Barb Schmidt and Mary Jo Fries. Thanks to all of them for such enthusiasm!

Its a first try at downloading from camera to computer, then edited to small video clips, pieced together and uploaded to Yahoo video. Took some time and some grumbling!

Amazing what you can do when you keep at it… a theme we can apply to the WHOLE Horizons endeavor.

This opportunity was brought to my attention by Stephen “Doc” Dockter who read the Gackle Blog!! He wanted to make sure that our students from Gackle & Streeter know about this opportunity if they wish to attend Valley City State University.

Stephanie Dockter Memorial Scholarship (2005)
A scholarship in memory of Stephanie Marie Dockter has been established by her father, Stephen Dockter, class of 1969. The interest earnings from this fund will fund a scholarship (s) up to $500 annually. Preference will be given to children of the 581 postal employees and graduates of either Streeter-Gackle, ND, or Barnesville, MN, high schools. In the event that there are no candidates from these respective high schools, the scholarship will be awarded at the discretion of Valley City State University. The scholarship may be renewed for more than one year, and shall be awarded to a student who has demonstrated financial aid.

I talked to VCSU and they said that technically the deadline (Jan 15) has passed, but if students get paperwork in ASAP, no later than early February 2008, that they could still be considered (I’d call to double check this). Please contact Betty Kuss Schumacher, Director Student Financial Aid, at email: betty.schumacher@vcsu.edu for more information. The address would be Betty Schumacher, VCSU, Financial Aid Office, 101 College Street, Valley City, ND 58072, phone: 701-845-7412.

Despite the below zero weather and sports tournaments, a group of hardy souls gathered in the Gackle School Library to be immersed in energy and enthusiasm for the next phase of Horizons. The ACTION Phase.

The unveiling of the Strategic Plan was interspersed throughout the evening’s program. We were entertained by Horizons-inspired “cheers” led by Gackle Mayor Ritchie Jacobson and some “adult” cheerleaders. Tom Isern, Professor of History, North Dakota State University and Plains Folk^TM self-syndicated newspaper columnist, sang with his guitar and recited Horizons-inspired limericks. We watched an inspirational DVD by National Geographic photographer Dewitt Jones about “taking action.” This is the third Dewitt Jones DVD we have viewed and I highly recommend it for anyone or any organization.

Jodi Bruns, Extension Agent for NDSU Community Economic Development & Leadership discussed upcoming conferences and opportunities Gackle might want to attend. These conferences are posted to the “main” North Dakota Community Blog page. Check back to this link often for updates on what’s happening.

Sally Jeppson updated the group on the Gackle Community Blog site and encouraged participation. Everyone received a business card with the Blog address shown at right.

Russ Pollock discussed Miner County, South Dakota’s revitalization as a “model” we could look to for our own revitalization. Logan County and Miner County have similar demographics so there is great potential! Sometime soon we hope to host a Miner County representative to discuss their process.

Finally, the Strategic Plan was outlined in a Power Point presentation and then distributed to every attendee. The evening was capped off with a delicious assortment of fingerfoods provided by Carolyn’s Cafe in Gackle.

More on the Plan will be discussed in future blog entries.

Today the Gackle Bloggers met for the first time since their training session. Jodi Bruns, Extension Agent for NDSU Community Economic Development & Leadership updated us on the following items:

• blog incentives
• blogs need address the 12 categories on “Community Progress on Outcomes” grid
• bloggers need to get permission in writing from people we photograph for the blog
• bloggers should ask for help if its needed

To generate awareness we are going to give out business cards with the Gackle Blog Site address to everyone who attends the upcoming Gackle Horizons Pep Rally (an event to unveil the community Strategic Plan and celebrate our one year Horizon’s program anniversary). Hopefully these cards will remind people to “check-out” what the bloggers are saying about the community. Maybe it will even get some folks to post comments or provide stories. There will also be a bunch of extra cards made to distribute around town.

The group included Jodi Bruns, Mary Conrad, Sally Jeppson, Chad Williams, Shelly Anderson and Tim Blackman. Our blogging discussion was conducted over a great meal at Carolyn’s Cafe. Chad provided entertainment and acted as the official photographer!

I received the following Christmas card from the State Historical Society of North Dakota. I was so delighted to see the use of an image associated with Gackle. It got me thinking about Gackle’s history and some of the ideas that people voiced in our Horizons meetings.

The Horizons Study Circles and the Leadership Plenty Program identified many assets in the Gackle community. One asset that repeatedly emerged was associated with our town’s history and its artists.

In these meetings many voiced, we need a community center with a gallery for our artists and a museum.

This is a big goal! But I think it is an important one.

I was surprised and pleased that so many participants valued the cultural fabric of our community. When a town is struggling to survive, often times the things that make it rich and vital, like the arts, are put on the backburner. However it is these things, art, history and music that can raise spirits and provide an avenue to revitalization.

Think of it, people traveling to Gackle to see an exhibit or museum…

Our history is rich; we have many folks who have stories to share. Perhaps we should be documenting those stories before they are lost.

Here is the text that was printed on the card:
December 14, 1917: The Gackle Republican published from 1906 to 1920 in Gackle, Logan County, North Dakota. As a side note the community of Gackle was named for George Gackle, of Kulm, LaMoure County, native of southern Russia. According to Don Gackle, publisher, McLean County Independent and the grandson of George Gackle, “Don’t think my grandfather ever lived in Gackle…it is said that all the Gackles lived in Kulm (not Gackle), the Lehrs lived in Gackle (not Lehr) and the Wisheks lived in Ashley (not Wishek).”

Isn’t this a fun fact…now, why might this be? Could it be that all the founders were too modest to name their own towns after themselves so they applied their name to a nearby location??? Who knows, maybe someone right here in Gackle…

The Gackle Community Business Relations Action Circle, an outcome of the Horizons Project, hopes to enhance relationships between the businesses and customers and is looking at ways to highlight the businesses we have in our town.

Just making an inventory of what was there was revealing, there are many more businesses and services available than is apparent. The idea is to Buy Local, Grow Gackle and use the great businesses we have right here in town.

One outcome of our Action Circle was a mini-farmers market that ran once a week for 7 weeks during August through October. It filled a need, since our grocery store closed and the nearest store with any variety of fresh vegetables is 40 miles away. Everybody enjoyed it, and the social interaction among townsfolk was as important as filling the fridge.

A few “Gacklites” participated as sellers of produce and the baked goods were especially successful. I personally didn’t participate as a seller but I’m already considering what seeds to start so I can join in the fun–of course it will probably something too strange for Gackle’s tastes but I say, “Bring it on, Baby…” Knowing the farmers markets of my home state, California, we have a long way to go, but what I’ve always enjoyed besides the great variety, is the educational component of those markets, new kinds of offerings to try, complete with recipes and tasting opportunities.

“So what do you think, will I see you there next Spring?”

PS. More on the Gackle Farmers Market coming soon. Also, I’m interested in hearing other community’s successes with farmers markets so please comment here. Thanks!

Also, not to forget our neighbors, Streeter, ND just 10 miles from Gackle has a nicely stocked, clean and friendly grocery store for all your basic needs. They even deliver!

Who doesn’t love Christmas carols? The songs are so familiar from childhood and family traditions. But add to that, a choir of trained voices and it tingles your spine. That’s what Wednesday’s, 2007 Gackle Christmas Cantata gave to all who attended. And that giving had a broader purpose–the gift of song was matched by donations to support the Gackle Ministerial Association. This group of local congregations supports youth programs, needy families, and special events.

Thanks go to all who participated. Singers included Jodee Free, Sheila Metz, Corinne Johnson, Fern Sukut, Alice Matthews, Jordan Zenker, Marilyn Blackman, Darla Reed, Stacy Ruff, Pastor Tim Blackman, Pastor Russ Pollock, Darlene Elsner, Millie Zenker, Dani Geinert, Dennis Mayer, Alan Kleingartner, Dwight Schmidt. Directed by Rory Metz, accompanied by Dorothy Dahl and narrated by Jeff Dahl.

And just for fun…if you want to do your own cantata…get Christmas carol lyrics and sing along with friends and family.