Welcome to the Goldendale, Washington Horizons Community Blog

Upcoming Workshops

2008-04-07T14:42:00.000-07:00

The Horizons Program has scheduled several regional workshops. These workshops are free, but space is limited and pre-registration is required. Gas cards and child care vouchers are available.

For pre-registration, contact:
WSU Klickitat County Extension
509-773-5817
228 W. Main, MS-CH-12, Goldendale, WA 98620
vanvelsora@wsu.edu

Detailed workshop descriptions will be furnished upon request.

Michael Shuman - April 15, 9:30am to 4pm
Grace Baptist Church, White Salmon

An attorney and economist, Mr. Shuman has written several books, including The Small-Mart Revolution. Mr. Shuman will address what local communities can do to create vibrant, self-reliant, community-based economic networks. He will highlight current trends in the national and global economy and show how consumers, investors, policymakers and organizers can revitalize their own community by supporting local business. www.smallmart.org

Vance Corum, April 22, 9:30am to 4pm
Pioneer Center, White Salmon
Mr. Corum will cover the topics of Marketing, Fundraising, Farmers Markets and added value to products, etc.

Jennifer Smith, April 29, 1pm-5pm
Pioneer Center, White Salmon

Jennifer Smith will has been a successful grant writer and reviewer for the past 12 years. She specializes in telecommunications, education and athletic grants, and has reviewed grants for various State and Federal agencies, including the Dept. of Commerce and Dept. of Education. While Smith agrees that it's easier to award money than apply for it, she will teach you the basics of putting together a successful proposal in this hands-on class, as well as show you how to locate possible sources of funding. Come prepared to work - if you have a proposal you are working on or considering applying for bring that too.
Grant Writing

Living Lightly Institut, May 3 - 4
Starts at 10 am both days
Goldendale, WA

Experiments in Green Building, Renewable Energy and Organic Gardening. May 4 will include hands-on activities.

Youth Development, May 6, 9:30 am-4 pm
Pioneer Center, White Salmon
Jan Klein, State 4-H Teen Leadership Coordinator will bring a wealth of resources to this workshop. Jan has worked with many youth and adult projects and activities on both the State and National level. She demonstrates how to promote positive adult and teen partnerships.
During this workshop you will learn about:

· Adult – Youth Partnerships
· Youth Leadership
· Youth Mentoring
· 4-H Opportunities
· Community Partnerships
· Resources

Boardsmanship, May 8, 9:30am-12:00
Pioneer Center, White Salmon

A workshop for anyone working on Boards or with Board organizations. Presented by Elaine Porter-Cole of the Washington State School Board Directors’ Association.

Ecommerce, May 8, 2008, 1pm-4pm
Pioneer Center

Cheryl Williams-Cosner has 20 years of experience as a small business owner and educator in business management in such diverse industries as agriculture, homebased business, food business, education, nonprofit organizations and the arts.
During this workshop you will learn:

· What is Ecommerce
· Find what to Sell
· Explore Online Auctions
· Storefront Options
· Adding Value To Service or Product
E -Marketing
Pricing for sales

BackPack Program Supports Children

2008-01-10T10:56:00.000-08:00

According to statistics provided by the BackPack Program, 22% of families in Goldendale are living below the poverty level. That is 14 percentage points over the state average. Of that percentage 32% are under the age of 18 and further 39% are under the age of five. Many of these children, for various reasons, are not getting the nutrition they when not at school.

The BackPack Program is intended to give these children easy to prepare and nutritious food during the weekends. A local church stores the food and every week volunteers meet there to load up the food to be placed in the children's backpack at school. Food is discreetly placed in the childs backpack so that they are not singled out.

After the initial funding from the Washington State 4-H program to get started , several local groups have donated funding to sustain the program. The local Kiwanis Club has donated books to place in the backpacks as well. The cost to fill a backpack is about $3 or $12 per month. Food donations are accepted but need to be easy to prepare and nonperishable. If you would like to more information or wish to support the BackPack Program contact Ava Van Velsor at 509-773-5817.

Part 2: Community Clean-up

2008-01-09T14:20:00.000-08:00

Fall Leaves Pick-Up - The Goldendale Horizons Project provided a fall leaves pick-up week in early November. The purpose was to provide leaf pick-up after residents raked, or if needed provide assistance to rake leaves. The leaves then are being used for mulch and/or compost by local residents. Flyers were sent to local stores and businesses to announce the event. Residents were provided phone numbers to call or schedule pick-up. Volunteers then, used their own vehicles to pick-up the bagged leaves. Pick-up was provided for about fifty residents in Goldendale. The National Junior Honor Society students of the Goldendale Middle School provided assistance to rake leaves. Thank you to the Clean-up Committee for organizing this event!!

Bridge Closure Effects Community

2007-12-14T11:45:00.000-08:00

Important Advisory:
A complete closure of the Highway 97 Biggs bridge is scheduled to begin January 2, 2008. There are several detours available using the US 197 Dalles Bridge via I-84, State Route 14 or the I-82 Columbia River Bridge for eastbound traffic. Advance warning signs are in place. This project is scheduled for completion in fall 2009.
For more information, contact Chris Tams in the Columbia Gorge Area Engineering Office at (866) 279-0730, or visit the project Web page: www.wsdot.wa.gov/Projects/US97/BiggsBridge/.
People who need to cross the river for work are encouraged to call the Car Pool Match Northwest at 1-866-973-6879 or go to www.carpoolmatchnw.org to make carpool connections.

Survey Promotion - Door Prize Winners Announced

2007-08-31T13:38:00.000-07:00

By now community members have received there survey in the mail. Goldendale Horizons promoted the survey during the county fair. Any one that filled their survey at the county fair got their name entered in a drawing for a chance to win one of three prizes. Drawing was held August 25.
The winnners were Betty Kinkead winning a $50 Dehart's gift certificate, Amy Koreski won the $50 Mt. View Shell gift card and Alita Quantrell was awarded the $50 Golden Lanes Bowling Center gift certificate. Congratulations to the winners!Thanks to all that completed a survey! Goldendale had 199 surveys completed.

Goldendale Horizons Project to Ask for Community Views

2007-08-16T14:52:00.000-07:00

As part of its Horizons Project working with local citizens to improve the quality of life in Goldendale, Washington State University Extension will be gathering input from as many community members as possible. Horizons is a community leadership program designed to assist small rural and reservation communities enhance their local economies and quality of life.

A brief survey is being mailed to area citizens this month to ask for their opinions on promoting positive change in the community. Participation in the survey is voluntary and the responses will be kept completely anonymous. A summary of the results will be provided to the community’s Horizons Project Committee to help inform their efforts to plan for Goldendale’s future.

“We hope that everyone will take a few minutes to complete and return the survey,” said Ava Van Velsor, Horizons Community Coach for Klickitat County. “The more input we receive the better our plans will reflect the opinions and desires of our community. It’s a chance for everyone to be heard.”

For more information about the Horizons Project or to obtain additional surveys contact Horizons Community Coach Ava Van Velsor at (509) 773-5817.

Goldendale Horizons Celebration

2007-08-07T15:51:00.000-07:00

Goldendale Horizons will be celebrating achievements made over the past year. All community members are welcome and if you've participated in the program please come and celebrate! The celebration will be August 9, 2007 at the Ekone Park in Goldendale from 6:30 pm to 8 pm.
Come and enjoy watermelon, drinks and music from Tim and Laurie Southworth!

PR Training

2007-07-05T11:56:00.000-07:00

PR training is now in session in White Salmon. There are 11 participants from the local area. Topics covered so far are blogs, digital cameras and downloading digital photos and video. Everyone is enthusiastic to learn and bring their new skills to their communities.

PR training will take place in Goldendale, July 1 from 9 am to 4 pm. Plenty of folks have registered for that.

Pictured above are Goldendale community members that participated in the first session in White Salmon: Kimmy Meinecke, Elsie David and Bob Seborer.

Supported through the Horizons Project - N.W. Area Foundation.

Gabcast Test: Anthony Dobson talks with Pamela Roberts

2007-07-01T15:26:00.000-07:00

This Gabcast test shows that you can use phones and cell phones to record interviews of community members. The recordings are stored on Gabcast.com for you. There is a 30 minute limit to this free service.

By clicking on the title of this post you can access the gabcast.com website.

Emily Randall Talks About LeadershipPlenty Training

2007-07-01T14:38:00.000-07:00

Emily Randall of Goldendale, WA shares her experiences with the LeadershipPlenty training through the Horizons Project. This training was supported through the N.W. Area Foundation and Washington State University Extension.

Click on the title of this post to access more information about the LeadershipPlenty curriculum.

Mounted Shooter

2007-07-01T13:50:00.000-07:00

This young lady rode well at the Washington State Mounted Shooters competition held at the fairgrounds in Goldendale, WA. The parent organization of these events is the Cowboy Mounted Shooters Association.

For more information about the organization you can click on the title of this post!

Klickitat County Fairgrounds Presents the 2007 Mounted Shooters Competition

2007-07-01T13:49:00.000-07:00

Many people came from around the northwest to compete in the Washington State Mounted Shooters competition. They used special guns called powder guns to shoot at balloons placed in special patterns. The rider that popped all the balloons in the least amount of time won. If a rider failed to pop a balloon, then 5 seconds per balloon was added to their time.
By Anthony Dobson

http://www.washingtonstatemountedshooters.com/

Washington Mounted Shooters Back Scene Supporter

2007-07-01T13:47:00.000-07:00

Sixty years of working with horses have made this gentleman an expert on preparing horses for the noise and confusion of the WA Mounted Shooters competition. This picture was taken at a competition at the fairgrounds in Goldendale, WA.

(July 1, 2007, Goldendale)

Local Supporter at Mounted Shooters

2007-07-01T13:33:00.000-07:00

On the weekend of June 30-July l, 2007 many businesses contributed to the Mounted Shooters event held at the Klickitat County Fairgrounds. Here Candy Magnuson with John L. Scott Realty shares her enthusiam with other spectators.

Goldendale Horizons/LeadershipPlenty Public Relations Class

2007-07-01T13:32:00.000-07:00

Shown are the participants in the Horizons Project leadership training on July 1, 2007 in Goldendale, WA. This training was remarkable from several perspectives, not the least of which was that it was held in the local bowling alley because the business provided wireless Internet access. Learning about online communication systems while watching community members bowl was a unique and fun experience.

Before this session, the training participants attended an event that featured mounted shooters riding horses around an arena shooting at balloons. They were dressed in full western regalia, in addition to shooting black powder pistols. This provided a great opportunity to capture interesting photos and video interviews for this website. This day might be one of the most unusual technology training sessions ever held in the United States!

Klickitat County Fairgrounds Event in Goldendale

2007-07-01T13:30:00.000-07:00

Carla is attending a Horizons Public Relations Class. The event she helped report about was the Washington State Mounted Shooters visiting the Klickitat County Fairgrounds on July 1 2007. This a booth with chaps that the Mounted Shooters wear while riding the horses in the arena.

Candy at Mounted Shooters

2007-07-01T13:26:00.000-07:00

Goldendale Horizon Media Workshop

2007-07-01T13:24:00.000-07:00

This photo shows contestants anxiously awaiting their chance to compete in the Washington Mounted Shooters event at the Klickitat County Fairgrounds (Goldendale) Sunday, July 1, 2007. This photo was taken as part of a public relations training session that was held at the fairgrounds and in which participants practiced community reporting through photography and video.

Mounted Shooters in Goldendale, WA at the Klickitat Fairgrounds

2007-07-01T13:23:00.002-07:00

This is one of the Washington State Mounted Shooters ready for his turn to compete at the Klickitat County Fairgrounds in Goldendale, Washington. During each round each shooter has ten balloons as targets. Most of the shooters get 7 to 9. A few manage all ten.

Goldendale, WA, Klickitat Fairgrounds Host Mounted Shooters

2007-07-01T13:23:00.001-07:00

Mounted Shooters in Goldendale,WA on July 1, 2007.

A first picture taken during at the Goldendale Horizons Network
public relations training day.

Our Neighbors - White Salmon

2007-06-30T15:36:00.000-07:00

Community supports and shows their pride for local youth and school! A photo opportunity taken during the PR training in White Salmon.

CoRE Action Team Report

2007-06-27T16:55:00.000-07:00

CoRE (Community Resource Exchange) Action Team
Activity Report

Background
The CoRE Action Team was formed at the Goldendale Horizons Action Forum on Saturday 2/24/07. Its goal is to enhance communication and mutual aid among the people of the Goldendale community by developing a community information exchange center(s). The CoRE service area includes the city of Goldendale, the remainder of zip code 98620 and zip code 98613 (Centerville).

Projects

Web Site - A web site will be established that contains links to services, goods and events in the service area.
Status
*A data base of links to resources, tagged with potential link categories has been created. *As of 5/29/07 there were 275 resources listed in the data base. Expansion of the list is ongoing.
*Definition of link categories is in work.
*Definition of host requirements is in work.
*Selection of a free server to host the web site is in work.

Yahoo Group - A Yahoo group will be established that will serve as a 'Forum for Community Dialog'.
Status
*A Yahoo Group called goldendalechats has been created.
*This is a moderated group. All posts to goldendalechats must be approved by the moderator.
*Ground rules have been established to define acceptable input.
*Nine members of the Team have accepted invitations to join the group. Expansion of the membership base must be accomplished.
*The Yahoo Group format includes folders for web links, data bases, calendars and other functions. Input to these folders is to be determined.
*There are currently no discussions in progress.

Bulletin Board - A bulletin board will be set up to serve those who have no or limited internet access and those who are uncomfortable with computer usage.
Status
*A bulletin board has been donated to the team for this purpose.
*Refurbishing of this bulletin board is in work.
*Two sites - Coyote Coffee Shop and The General Store - have been selected for the display. The bulletin board will be alternated between these two sites biweekly.
*A format for information display has been defined. One side will contain lists of contact information for community services, goods and events. The other side will contain posts by members of the community. Bulletin board contents will be updated and maintained by the CoRE Team Bulletin Board Committee.

Publicity - A publicity committee has been established to advertise the services offered by the CoRE Action Team.
Status
*Research on ways to advertise the Community Resource Exchange on the radio, in the newspaper and on community bulletin boards has been done.
*Discussion on advertising content is on going.

LeadershipPlenty Training

2007-05-15T16:42:00.000-07:00

LeadershipPlenty is a program developed by the Pew Partnership for Civic Change and is being offered in Goldendale through the Horizons program of the Northwest Area Foundation. It is designed to equip citizens with skills like effective communication, conflict management, and partnership building that they can use to work together as community leaders to reduce poverty.
Training dates started with group one on May 10 and runs through May 24-training is Thursday and Saturday; group 2 starts May 23 and runs through June 6-training is Tuesday and Wednesday and group 3 will start May 24 running through July 19-training every Thursday evening. This gives participants several opportunities to attend all training modules!
Registrations are still being accepted at the WSU-Klickitat County Extension office.

Linda Comments on Training

2007-04-12T09:53:00.001-07:00

LeadershipPlenty in Moses Lake

2007-04-11T10:09:00.000-07:00

Linda and Ava review curriculum over morning coffee.

Washington Gorge Action Programs

2006-07-04T17:05:00.000-07:00

Washington Gorge Action Programs is a non-profit, serving the Klickitat & Skamania, Washington communities as an action agency for the public benefit of the following:

# Community Services
# Family Services
# Weatherization
# Emergency Assistance
# Emergency Services
# Food Assistance
# Emergency Shelter
# Housing Development
# Domestic Violece
# Sexual Assault

Click Here for the Washington Gorge Action Programs website.

WorkSource: Central Washington

2006-07-04T13:47:00.000-07:00

You can visit the WorkSource centers directly. Select the location below to learn about contacting them, and what you will find when you visit them:

* WorkSource Columbia Gorge
* WorkSource Goldendale Affiliate
* WorkSource Sunnyside
* WorkSource Toppenish Affiliate
* WorkSource Yakima
* WorkSource Kittitas

* WorkSource Central Washington

Our Vision

The OneStop Workforce Partnership of Central Washington will…

1. Be Customer / Consumer Driven
2. Utilize Integrated Technology Systems
3. Have Accessibility, i.e. Easy Access (also for special needs) and be easily
recognizable
4. Share Resources and Current, Updated Information
5. Emphasize Co-Ownership and Interdependency Between Partners
6. Be Outcome Based, Using Quality Improvement Strategies
7. Each Partner Organization will offer Access to Identified Levels of Core
Services.

Our Mission

To provide an effective, comprehensive, and fully integrated delivery system of services for successful employment. To bring together business, economic development, employment, training, education, labor, and social services to share responsibility for universal access and workforce development. To share resources to increase service delivery capacity and efficiency, and provide access to information and services across organizational lines.

Membership to the OneStop Workforce Partnership of Central Washington is open to all interested parties. Anyone interested in becoming a member of the partnership should submit a letter of interest to the full membership,

What Services are available?

There is a dependable menu of services that may be directly offered at one or more locations:

For the Job Seeker...

* Resource Room - FREE access to computers, phones, fax machines, copiers, and Internet, all for your use in resume writing and job search activities.
* Job Search Assistance - Let our staff and resources help match you with a job suited to your skills and career needs.
* Workshops - Several FREE workshops are available. Topics include writing effective resumes, interviewing, dressing for success, financial planning, and more.
* Unemployment Insurance Information - You can file a claim for unemployment insurance simply by dialing 1-800-362-4636. More information is available at gotoui.com, or from our WorkSource centers.
* Recruitments and Job Fairs - Many businesses come directly to us to fill their hiring needs. Make sure we have your resume, so that we can call on you when those opportunities arise. And watch for information about job fairs in your area.
* Career counseling and assessment - Our experienced staff can help you determine what sort of career you are best suited for, and what you can do to advance to an even better job.
* Transitional assistance (dislocated workers) - If you have lost your job because of a lay-off or business closure, let us help get you back into the working world as quickly and as successfully as possible. We may even be able to help finance your training for a new career.
* Information on job trends and labor market data
* Veterans services
* Help in finding federal or state dollars to cover some or all of the costs of training
* Information about employment and training providers to help you make informed choices
* employer assistance through recruitment and pre-screening of applicants

For the business / employer...

* Automated or assisted job posting
* Recruitment and pre-screening of applicants.
* Unemployment Insurance information - how to reduce your premium burden.
* Information on wages, benefits and labor market data
* Infomation about state taxes.
* Human Resources - Let our staff augment, or act as your HR Department.
* Tax Credits - There are many ways you can earn significant tax credits, while training new employees to fill your open positions.
* Customized training - Need special training for your employees, so you can grow your business and stay competitive? Contact us for information about how we can help.

These services are offered by a number of partner organizations who participate in this one-stop system. The cooperation among these partners makes the blend of these services seamless to you, the customer.

Where are the access points?

You will find many of these services, and/or information on how to access them in person, here on our website.

Klickitat County: Environmental Health Services

2006-07-04T13:09:00.000-07:00

Our Mission

Improving People's Health by Reducing Exposures to Environmental Hazards. This is accomplished by:

* maintaining a safe supply of food and drinking water
* discovering the mechanisms of environmentally related diseases
* treating and disposing of solid and toxic wastes
* reducing air, water, food, and noise pollution

Click Here for the website.

Klickitat County: Personal Health Services

2006-07-04T13:05:00.000-07:00

Our Mission

We work to promote and protect the health of Washington citizens. This is accomplished by:

* Improve health through disease and injury prevention, immunization, and newborn
screening for prenatal disease programs.
* Prevent illness and death caused by behavior choices
* Provide education to help people make good health decisions
* Control communicable diseases
* Strengthen families

Click Here for the Personal Health Services website.

Native Americans & Economic Development

2006-07-04T12:17:00.000-07:00

Native American entrepreneurial activity near and on reservations is growing nationally, and can help Native communities overcome poverty and promote healthy tribal economies.

Highlights key findings from research and interviews with more than 60 Native and non-Native leaders in entrepreneurship development. (60 pages, published 2004)

Click Here to access the pdf document related to Native American entrepreneurial activities.

If you click on the title of this post it will take you to the NWAF Solutions Depot, which gives you access to how-to-guides, case studies, and more to reduce poverty in your community.

Rural Assistance Center: Health Services

2006-07-04T12:12:00.000-07:00

What is the Rural Assistance Center?

A product of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Rural Initiative, the Rural Assistance Center (RAC) was established in December 2002 as a rural health and human services "information portal." RAC helps rural communities and other rural stakeholders access the full range of available programs, funding, and research that can enable them to provide quality health and human services to rural residents.

Click on the title of this post to access the RAC website!

2007 Great Strides: Four Case Studies

2006-07-04T12:03:00.000-07:00

Inspiring stories about communities recognized by the Northwest Area Foundation for making significant progress toward reducing poverty long term. Other communities can replicate or adapt these poverty-reduction strategies.

2007 award-winning communities, highlighted in this publication, include:

- City of Westhope, ND
- City of Independence, OR
- 4-H Club - Big Quil Enterprises (Brinnon/Quilcene, WA)
- White Earth Land Recovery Project and White Earth Investment Initiative (White Earth Reservation, MN)

Click Here for the pdf document of the 2007 Great Strides: Four Case Studies.

By clicking on the title of this post you can access the NWAF Solution Depot, which gives you access to how-to-guides, case studies, and more to address poverty reduction in your community.

Case Study: Brinnon & Quilcene, WA; Youthful Energy

2006-07-04T11:54:00.000-07:00

These two adjoining rural communities hugging the Olympic Mountains used a combination of social assets and leadership to reverse plummeting wages. An economic downturn in the timber industry motivated Quilcene/Brinnon to build up its aquaculture industry, which has caused a boost in wages by 16 percent between 1995 and 2005 and provided job development programs for youth. Half of the youth live in reported poverty, yet they have become the catalysts for change in this community.

Click Here for the pdf document of this exciting youth entrepreneurship initiative.

By clicking on the title of this post you can go to the NWAF Solution Depot, where you can access how-to-guides, case studies, and more related to reducing poverty in your community.

Case Study: Dayton, WA; The Broken Window Theory

2006-07-04T11:39:00.000-07:00

If a house's window is broken and left in disrepair, passers-by will conclude that no one cares and no one is in charge. More broken windows result, a climate of destruction and despair builds and eventually pervades the neighborhood. That, in a nutshell, is the "broken windows" theory.

When Dayton, Washington saw elements of this condition in its community in the early 1980s, the townspeople, including the youth, decided things had gone far enough.

Click Here for the pdf document about how this community turned things around and decreased their poverty levels by 34% over a 10 year period.

If you click on the title of this post it will take you to the NWAF Solutions Depot, where you can access how-to-guides, case studies, and more related to successful initiatives to reduce poverty in your community.

Graphics Uploads - mtns

2005-07-04T10:41:00.000-07:00

Graphics Uploads-logos

2005-07-04T10:27:00.000-07:00

2004-08-05T11:32:00.000-07:00

2004-08-05T11:30:00.000-07:00

2004-08-05T11:28:00.000-07:00