Menno Area Development Corporation

October 20, 2009

The Menno Area Development Corporation met for its regular meeting October 20, 2009 at the Open Door Café with the following present: Peg Thranum, Bill Headley, Morna Anderson, Wilma Liebl, Darlene Mehlhaf, Judy Headley, Shannon Herrboldt, Brent Haberman, Marsha Schelske, Donna Zeeb, Ken Bertsch and Gary Schelske.

Board member Shannon Herrboldt called the meeting to order at 12:20 p.m.

Bertsch moved, Judy Headley seconded, to approve the agenda with the addition of phone directory; motion carried.

Bertsch moved to approve the minutes as presented, Bill Headley seconded; motion carried.

Judy Headley moved, Anderson seconded, to approve the finance report; motion carried. The group decided to change both CD’s to 6-months upon renewal because of the poor interest rates.

SEFP REPORT: Thranum shared the report in Larsen’s absence. According to “21^st Century Rural America” by the Center for Rural Entrepreneurship, rural communities decline for the following

three reasons: 1. Failure to Act – We MUST take responsibility for our own development and have an economic development game plan. 2. Failure to Invest – Those with an Economic Development plan, failure is rooted in a lack of meaningful investment. Bottom line – a good plan supported by too few dollars has little hope of achieving the desired outcomes. 3. Wrong Focus – These communities continue to focus on business attraction even when these efforts do not bear fruit, repeatedly. Rural communities fail to extend a hand and collaborate with their neighbors to create regional strategies that can reach scale and create real impact.

According to an Economic Research Service report, “baby boomers” (those born between 1946 and 1964) have entered a stage in which their migration patterns will increase the population of rural and small-town settings.

Committee Reports: Poker Run: The poker run wasn’t held because of the inclement weather.

Housing – Judy Headley stated the housing committee will meet at the Care Center on October 26 at 7 p.m. Thranum gave her the housing surveys, a CD and contact information from Rita Edwards, Coordinator for the Rural Housing Playbook and related Edwards would be happy to come meet with the committee. The committee continues to search out available land for housing development.

Business – Thranum moved to purchase an ad for $140 on the back cover of the 2010 Menno-Olivet Phone Directory published by Printed Impressions. Marsha Schelske seconded; motion carried.

Our next meeting will be November 17 at the Open Door Café at 12 noon.

Marsha Schelske moved to adjourn at 12:30 p.m. Judy Headley seconded; motion carried.

Respectfully submitted,

Peggy Thranum, Secretary