Minutes of
Menno Area Development Meeting
The Menno Area Development Corporation held its regular
meeting at the Open Door Café on
President Weiss called the
meeting to order at
Wilma Liebl moved
to approve the agenda with the following addition: Welcome Businesses. Donna
Zeeb seconded, all present in favor.
Nancy Larsen gave the SEFP
report. SEFP did a “First Dollar” presentation on November 2 to Kristi Diede,
owner of “The Cutting Edge”. The business is located in the former “Cut Hut”
location. Welcome to the Menno Business Community Kristi!
She reported board members
received training last month from Ernesto Sorolli, founder of enterprise
facilitation. She attended a very informative grant-writing workshop in Irene
on October 28. There will be grant-writing workshops in Madison and Chamberlain
the first two weeks in December. The cost of the workshop is $89. She announced
the Career Fair this year will be held on February 8th in Parker.
Glenn Kirschenman handed out information to interested businesses concerning
the Career Fair and encouraged them to attend. Participating businesses are
asked to have some type of hands on demonstration to draw the student to their
booth and show the student what is involved in being (for example) an
electrician. SDSU educators will present a workshop on personalities and what
careers fit with each. There will be simulated job interviews. Students from
Menno, Bridgewater, Centerville, Freeman, Freeman Academy, Irene, Hurley,
Marion, Parker, Viborg, and Wakonda have been invited to participate.
Gary Schelske made a motion
to accept the minutes of the October 19 meeting. Marsha Schelske seconded, all
present in favor.
Wilma Liebl made a motion
to accept the November finance report. Shannon Herrboldt seconded.
Committee Reports: Tammy Liebl reported on the updates to the web page.
She has linked to the council minutes and some of the ordinances. She has been
asked to do a Calendar of Events page and will do so, if people
get the information to her. She asked if names have been drawn for the
businesses to be featured on the web page. Dues will have to be collected
before this can be done.
New Business: Ad’s will be placed to welcome the two new-retained
businesses, The Cutting Edge, Kristi Diede-owner and Menno Hardware, Tom and
Cindy Fischer-owners.
Discussion was had on the
motel, but no new information was reported.
Thranum had spoken to Dr.
Johnson from Scotland about their revolving loan fund. He has nothing to do
with that, but did state how it got started. Fifteen people in Scotland put up
$15,000 each for a total of $225,000 to build the M-tron
building. M-tron was there a year and then gone. They
did collect rent for a few years because they had a contract. They sold the
building to Broin for $50,000. Instead of dividing that money up to return to
the original investors, the “for profit” development corporation donated that
money to the “not-for-profit” development corporation to start a revolving loan
fund.
Donna Zeeb mentioned Appreciation/Santa
Claus Day is December 11. Wilma Liebl announced they are still selling chances
on the wildlife plaque donated by Perry Caylor and the jean quilt made by Mrs.
Holzwarth. The money raised will be used to purchase and send gifts to the members
of the 153rd serving in Iraq. The plaque and quilt will be given
away on December 11 during Appreciation Day.
Gary Schelske made a motion
to adjourn at 1 p.m. until at 12 Noon December 21 at the Open Door. Bill
Headley seconded, all present in favor.
Respectfully submitted,
Peggy Thranum, Secretary