Armour, SD

Speaking of economic development, tomorrow is the 2008 Launch conference on the campus of Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, South Dakota. This conference is bringing together more than 300 people who are interested in issues such entrepreneurship and economic development. As I wrote in an earlier blog, I attended last year and this conference provided a fantastic networking opportunity for little money. I am going again this year, and I hope to see some of you there.

I don’t know if the noon lunch  is full, but I there may still be room for you at the conference. Unless you are a student, I would encourage you to sign up for the “educator’s track.” (This must mean that you’re going to get educated, I guess, not that you need to be an educator!). That is what they told me to sign up for.

Here is a sample of some of the people I met at last year’s conference: new and experienced economic development people from around the state; entrepreneurs, or people who want to be but don’t know where to begin; resource people; successful businessmen and women who have advice to share; and youth who are excited about possibly coming back to South Dakota to establish businesses after they graduate. This is just a sampling!

 For more information, here is the Web site http://www.dwu.edu/sdlaunchconference/index.htm and the FMI number on Web site contact:

Questions: Call 605.996.1140 or 800.487.1740 (toll free)

Are you looking for a networking opportunity that could benefit your community? Last year, I attended Launch ‘07 at the DWU campus in Mitchell. It was an excellent way to spend the day and network. The registration was cheap–something like $40–and even included lunch. There were some great speakers such as the student from Plankinton who invented both a child drowning alert system and a car seat safety system (for those of you who are boys’ basketball fans, I noticed he was a starter on the BB team the other night when we were playing them! What a talented young man). Another favorite speaker was Brian Klock, who own Klockworks custom cycles in Mitchell and has been featured on the Discovery Channel’s Biker Build Off among other TV shows. There was also a lot of opportunity for networking, which was the best part. I came home with a lot of ideas and a lot of business cards! I know I brought a lot of ideas back to our Horizons Circle Groups.

This year, it looks like Launch will not feature the same tracks as last year. Last year, there was a track devoted to community entrepreneurship. I am not sure which track I would register for this year–it might be a good idea to call or e-mail for more information to get some advice if you are thinking of attending.

Here is the information from the web:

Launch ’08 will be held on Thursday, Feb. 28 at Dakota Wesleyan University.

Launch ’08 is a one-day event advancing entrepreneurship education in South Dakota. The 2008 annual conference features two tracks. The educator track is geared towards those who are interested in integrating innovative and creative thinking within their respective disciplines. The student track is geared toward inspiring and supporting students who are entrepreneurial. The conference will also feature networking opportunities and relevant resources for entrepreneurs.

This 2008 event marks the third annual conference which has included some of the most respected state and national leaders in entrepreneurship education. This year’s conference features internationally renowned speakers: Ed Sobey, Ph.D., global evangelist for creative learning and founding director of the Northwest Invention Center, the National Inventors Hall of Fame and the National Toy Hall of Fame; Kathleen R. Allen, Ph.D., a nationally recognized and respected leader, consultant, speaker and author of numerous books on entrepreneurship as well as the director of the University of Southern California Marshall Center for Technology Commercialization; and Timothy M. Stearns, Ph.D., holder of the Coleman Foundation Chair in Entrepreneurial Studies and the executive director of the Lyles Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship at California State University-Fresno.

The conference is a collaborative project of the Enterprise Institute, the Kelley Center for Entrepreneurship/Dakota Wesleyan University, South Dakota State University Entrepreneurship Program, EQUIP, South Dakota EPSCoR, South Dakota Small Business Development Center, and the South Dakota Governor’s Office of Economic Development.

A special program sponsored through South Dakota EPSCoR which offers $1,000 faculty stipends and/or faculty and student conference scholarships is available. For more information visit www.sdepscor.org.

For registration information, visit www.dwu.edu/sdlaunchconference, call 605-996-1140, or 800-487-1740.

As we watched the ice & sleet come down on Saturday, Dec. 1st it was debatable as to the wisdom of continuing our event. However we do live in SD and it was December. Yes it would have been nicer if the weather was warmer but it was great to see the main street aligned with cars for bingo and later for the parade of lights. The celebration event for our horizon project was planned for this evening because of the chance to have people to view our plans and ideas who may not have ventured out for “another meeting”. The time of year is so hectic one with Christmas parties, church programs, basketball games and just holiday seasonal plans. We felt to combine it with our Christmas in Armour would be a way to combine some of the December events.

Click on photos to open a larger version.
The Horizons Strategic Plan Celebration was held Saturday, December 1. It was combined with Armour’s annual Christmas Promotion. A variety of events drew a large crowd to town. Visitors were treated to a band playing holiday tunes on Main Street.

As I stood at the booth that afternoon and evening and visited with people it was a pleasant surprise to have such positive feedback. The lake cabins and housing projects were very popular. One gentlemen from Sioux City was very excited about the cabins. They visit quite frequently in the area and would use them. The youth were very excited about being able to use them for family & scout outings. The cabins will allow an outing for families who are unable to afford the camper and trip to the campground. It would allow some relaxation and family time during a time when that is hard to come by.

We created a display with information about all of our Horizons goals. We also distributed copies of our Strategic Plan to those who attended the celebration.

Young families were interested in the housing ideas we had on display. It gave them thoughts of upgrading to a larger home to accomodate growing families. We have come to realize we are in housing shortage. Many young families who have a member working in town live out of town because of no housing. Thus less young families living in town and children not attending our local school.

One exciting item of interest was visiting with a young adult in high school. This YA commented on how they read the blogs all the time and how exciting it is for them to see what is going on in our community. I encouraged the person to “blog’ too and let us know their viewpoint and ideas for our community. This is our future - without the young people we will no longer exist.

Overall it was a good evening. Yes it could have been better but as in anything it could always be better but it was successful evening. During my years in extension when I would worry about if a program had reached enough people a professor friend always told me - if you helped one person gain information it was worth it. We hope to find a place to display our boards for public viewing and questions. Thank you to all who helped in the organizing and displaying of the Horizon project.

Have you ever felt like your job is “unimportant?” Let me be among the first to remind you, it’s not. Horizons has taught us that everyone who lives in Armour is a leader in this community. Let me explain.

If a visitor comes into town and stops at three local businesses and is greeted warmly at each stop, he or she is likely to return. Giving that warm greeting is really a form of “leadership.” Each day, each of us who live in Armour have the opportunity to help lead this community. Maybe that leadership takes a direct form–serving on a volunteer organization, for instance. But leadership can also be indirect.

Just this week we were discussing how a person who answers the phone for a company can provide a positive or negative impression of an ENTIRE ORGANIZATION.  Think about that! The person who is answering the phone may have never thought about it before, but truly he or she holds a leadership position in their organization. They provide the “first-impression,” and we all know how important those are!

Horizons has truly raised awareness about how many people in our community have wonderful, useful leadership skills. When I think the fact that about 80 people ACTIVELY participated in our circle groups–now that is leadership! And think of how many great projects have resulted in our community as a response to that call (the parent teachers group, reorganizing the Armour Community Foundation, etc., etc.!) Wow! We couldn’t have done all that with only one or two people leading the efforts.

During this holiday season, please think about the gift that you can provide the Armour community: the gift of leadership. It is something that we all can–and need–to do for our community in BOTH indirect and direct ways.

Each of us is unique. And each of our unique talents is needed by Armour. Have you ever thought about that? YOU fill a niche in our community that no one else can fill. And if you don’t fill that niche–it remains empty. Always be mindful of the fact that all of us are leaders, whether by choice or by default.

The next PTT meeting will be Nov 7 at the Armour Fire Hall. We will have a speaker for Teen Depression and Suicide. We will also discuss the school board and state decision on the Breakfast Program Proposal. We look forward to seeing as many parents and teachers as we can. It is very informative and it helps to get different opinions on what we can do to improve our school. We had a great success with the Spintacular and the CHIP identification programs that we sponsored in October.
Nicole Neugebauer

The Amour Community Development Corporation (ACDC) met Thursday, October 25, and discussed a variety of topics. Earlier this year the ACDC declared housing as its top priority. The group has a 96′x142′ building site that is available for new home construction. The parcel could be divided into two residential lots and a lot would be FREE to anyone willing to construct a traditional stick-built home on the site.

One of the long-term Horizons projects is to create new housing in our community. So, the oppotunity to work with the ACDC couldn’t come at a better time.

Armour has always excelled at coming together when something needs to get done. Our movie theater is a community project that has enjoyed the support of individuals and organizations for eight years now. We know the value of working together.

So, we have some land and we needs some houses … what’s next?

As you know, the Armour Community Foundation has been challenged to raise $20,000 by June 30, 2008. If that goal is met, an anonymous donor will provide $10,000 in matching funds. We have received some great donations toward this goal and want to say THANK YOU to everyone who has contributed thus far. But to meet this challenge, we are going to need help from everyone in our community.

I have heard many people say they don’t give to things like this because they can’t afford to make a large gift–they feel like their gift won’t matter. But I am here to tell you, that’s wrong! Every gift does count! Large or small, YOUR gift will make a difference.

If each of the 700 people who live in Armour supported the Armour Community Foundation with a $20 gift this year, that would amount to $14,000!!! Think of that!

Remember, the money that is donated to the Armour Community Foundation is going to be spent to help the projects of non-profit organizations in the ARMOUR COMMUNITY. We need YOU!!! To help us meet the challenge goal, send donations to: Armour Community Foundation, PO Box 333, Armour, SD  57313.

THANK YOU for supporting Armour!!!!