Minutes of Menno Area Development Meeting

October 18, 2005

The Menno Area Development Corporation held its regular meeting at the Open Door Café on October 18 with the following in attendance: Peg Thranum, Darlene Mehlhaf, Wilma Liebl, Donna Zeeb, Bill Headley, David Bender, Ken Stepanek, Ken Bertsch, Dale Weiss, Shannon Herrboldt, Brent Haberman, Gary Schelske, Nancy Larsen, Dennis Aisenbrey, Teresa Anderson, Glenn Kirschenman, Marsha Schelske, Calvin & Alice Hagge, Dennis Schutt, Dorothy Harnisch, Larry Tolzin, Cindy Nelsen, and Gary Herman.

 President Dale Weiss called the meeting to order at 12:20 p.m.

David Bender moved to approve the agenda as presented; Wilma Liebl seconded, all present in favor.

Glenn Kirschenman made a motion to approve the minutes of the September 20^th meeting and the October finance report. Ken Bertsch seconded, all present in favor.

Nancy Larsen gave the SEFP report. The Career Fair will be held in the Menno Gym on February 17, 2006 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Help is needed to do mock job interviews. Interested persons may contact Nancy or Dale Weiss. It was suggested to hold the fair at a time other than February, as that is income tax filing time for farmers.

Committee Reports: Dave Bender reported we have a party interested in the motel property who will meet with us after harvest.

Dale Weiss reported Lee Friesen is working with the Aisenbrey’s to gather information concerning the sale of the grocery store.

Ken Bertsch stated we are not eligible to receive money from larger corporations like “Sam’s Club” without having a 501c3 tax-exempt status. If our gross receipts are below $10,000, the filing fee will be $150. If our gross receipts are above $10,000, our filing fee will be $500. Ken Bertsch made a motion to file for a 501c3 tax-exempt status. Dennis Schutt seconded, all present in favor; motion carried.

David Bender reported being at the Menno-Olivet Development board meeting. Dennis Aisenbrey reported the board members voted to turn the Menno Clinic over to the Menno Area Development Corporation on January 1, 2006. (We made a motion to accept responsibility for the clinic at the September 20, 2005 meeting.)

Dennis Aisenbrey stated Audrey Fergen is looking for ideas to keep 70-90 kids busy for a one-day serve project in June 2006. The kids come from all over the United States and Canada and do projects in communities ranging from painting, landscaping, general clean up, to gutting buildings. Anyone having a project that can be finished in one day should contact Audrey as soon as possible.

Larry Tolzin made a motion to advertise our motel property on our web page. Glenn Kirschenman seconded, all present in favor; motion carried.

Our next meeting will be November 15 at the Open Door Café at 12:00 noon.

Wilma Liebl made a motion to adjourn at 12:55 p.m. Teresa Anderson seconded, all present in favor.

Respectfully submitted,

Peggy Thranum, Secretary