Western Plains Council & Life Members
NEWS AND MEETINGS
Charles Hecht Council Pres. 507-831-2265
E-mail chuckhect2@msn.com
Western Plains Council & Life Members
NEWS AND MEETINGS
Charles Hecht Council Pres. 507-831-2265
E-mail chuckhect2@msn.com
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Western Plains Council donates
$500. to Ft. Belmont Foundation to be used towards their new museum.
Pioneers; |
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Heron Lake Library accepts $500 donation from Western Plains Council. Pioneer; Laura Meyers (left) Library Board members; |
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Scroll down to read minutes of past meetings.
Western Plains Telecom Pioneers
Minutes of Business Meeting
October 19th, 2005
President, Charles Hecht called the meeting to order at the Eagles Club in
Windom. After the Pledge of Allegiance there was a moment of silence to remember
those that have gone before us. Member and partners attending were Leatrice
Hecht, George and Doris Bakalyar, Becky and Bud Meyer, Dorothy Benson, Kris
Swanson, Vice President Gloria Smith and Sec-Treas Jodie Crowell. The minutes of
the last meeting were read and approved. The treasurers report was distributed,
reviewed and approved.
OLD BUSINESS
A Thank you was received and shared with attendees from Orville Gravley and
MSTram.
Gary Greb sent Chuck 20 phones and some of the phones have been given to the
Jeffers Senior Center.
George will talk to KDOM about collecting phones. Chuck will reprogram the
phones and add the paper work to the package.
The Southern Council Fall Fling was cancelled due to lack of attendance and we
will wait until spring to reschedule another event.
NEW BUSINESS
Chuck attended the Northern Council Fall Fling. It was well attended by
approximately 45 Pioneers and Partners.
Chuck and Leah mailed out calendars and have been very successful in the
return sales checks. He also advised that the drawing date for the calendars is
Jan. 24th 2006.
Chuck reminded members to be sure and vote for Chapter offices. We will be
receiving a voting ballot in the mail.
The Jackson Pioneer Museum received another PBX. The two new display cases are
wonderful and work very well in the Museum. Dorothy presented the following
Jackson County Fair Pioneer Telephone Museum report:
Jackson County Fair August 3-7 2005
The museum got another Hotel PBX and now the Museum is full and there is no more
room! Charles and Leatrice brought it to Jackson and my two nephews carried it
into the Museum.
The two new display cases were put to good use. An assortment of old tools was
put into one and the other was for a collection of assorted items related to the
telephone.
During the fair the weather was ideal. Attendance was average about the same
as the year before.
George & Doris Bakalyar and Charles & Leatrice Hecht each took an afternoon to
help greet the people that came to see the Museum. Thank you very much for
helping. Reported by Dorothy Benson.
Chuck shared that the Chapter would like to do a project and it was discussed
that we could suggest painting the outside of the Jackson Telephone Pioneer
Museum. Dorothy will check on room rates and Chuck will suggest the project at
the next Chapter meeting.
A request for donation was received from the Montevideo Girl Scouts. Gloria
made a motion, George 2nd to donate $200.00. Motion carried.
Beck Meyer shared a request from the Heron Lake Public Library. They are doing
a large fund raiser to build a new building for the their library. George made a
motion, Gloria 2nd to donate $200.00 to the Library project. Becky Meyer will
deliver the funds to Library Board.
Jodie requested that $500.00 be transferred from the General Fund to the
Designated fund. George made a motion to transfer the funds, Becky 2nd, motion
carried.
Election of Officers was held. Nominations were received for the following
offices:
o Council President-Chuck Hecht
o Vice President George Bakalyar
o Secretary Jodie Crowell
o Treasurer Peggy Palkovich
Kris made a motion to close and accept all nominations. George 2nd. Gloria
called for a vote and the vote was unanimous to accept the officers nominated.
George made a motion to leave the Group Reps the same for 2006. Becky 2nd and
the motion carried.
Chuck reported that the Chapter wants the old pickup truck. The vehicle is
still in need of repair and the licensing is in dispute. Chuck will continue to
work on this issue.
Chuck also reported that he received a $500.00 check from Qwest for the Windom
Legion Field project. Chuck will deliver the check and it will be used to
purchase a park bench along the walking path with a plaque donated by Qwest
Telecom Pioneers.
Kris requested monies for the Northern Council Christmas tea. She made a
motion for $35.00, Jodie 2nd and the motion carried.
The next meeting will be held in April with the date to be determined when
members return from the south.
Respectfully submitted,
Jodie Crowell
Sec-Treas.
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Western Plains Telecom Pioneers
Minutes of Business Meeting
July 6th, 2005
President, Charles Hecht called the meeting to order at the Eagles Club in
Windom. After the Pledge of Allegiance there was a moment of silence to remember
those that have been lost. Member and partners attending were Leatrice Hecht,
George and Doris Bakalyar, Becky and Bud Meyer, Dave and Barb Hemmer and Jodie
Crowell, Sec. Treas. The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved. The
treasurers report was distributed, reviewed and approved.
OLD BUSINESS
Jodie attended the Cottonwood County Family Service Agency
Appreciation Coffee. This Appreciation coffee was held to honor all groups and
individuals that made the Comfort Fleece blanket program possible.
The Thank you received from the City of Windom-Legion Park
Project was distributed to attending members.
A Thank you was also received from the Senior Center for
Chucks handling of the distribution of 911-only cell phones. Chuck informed the
group that he had also received a call from the Jeffers Senior Center requesting
12 phones. Dave Hemmer stated that if our Council needed a few more phones and
we could make connections with someone going to St. Cloud he would gladly give
us the additional phones needed to meet the Jeffers request. Chuck will follow
up. Dave also shared that he worked with the law enforcement agencies to collect
the phones and then he retrieves them, reprograms them and has several Senior
Advocacy groups distribute the phones.
Dave Hemmer also shared that Ralph Hunstad can get as much
stuffing for Hug-a-bears as we need. Jodie will check with Kris and make sure
she received some of the stuffing from Ralph or that she knows this resource is
available.
NEW BUSINESS
Dave and Barb Hemmer made a presentation about the MS Tram
Project a 5-day bike ride that is raising money for MS. He is the Chairperson
and has a goal of raising $10,000.00. Our council had previously given $200.00.
The MS Tram will be held July 24-27th starting in Grand Rapids and ending in
Duluth. Volunteers are needed to man the Pioneer Rest Stop making sandwiches and
other treats for the riders. We watched a DVD created by Dave showing last
years ride. Leah made a motion to donate an additional $300.00. George 2nd and
the motion carried.
Dave suggested that as soon as we know whom the new
President is for 2006, that as a Council we extend an invite to host a meeting
at our Council, which would include a tour of the Jackson Pioneer Museum. He
stated that he felt there would be a great deal of interest to view our Museum.
The group reviewed a letter received from Orville Gravley/HIS
recipient requesting funds. George made a motion to donate $150.00, Leah
seconded and the motion carried.
Jodie requested a transfer of funds from the General Fund
to the Designated Fund. George made a motion to transfer $200.00. Becky seconded
and the motion carried.
The Southern Fall Fling has been scheduled for Thursday,
Sept. 22nd at the Windom Eagles Club. Jodie will make arrangements for the meal
cost and also plan the Birthday Party theme. Attendees to the Fall Fling will be
asked to bring a cake mix, frosting mix, party favors, candles, balloons, etc.
and the goal will be to get enough items to create 12 Birthday Party Bags for
the Windom and Jackson Food Shelves. Jodie will also bring cupcakes and each
attendee birthday will be mentioned. Jodie also suggested that we conduct a
short business meeting during the Fall Fling so all Pioneers and partners can
watch the process that is followed in hopes of generating more attendance at the
meetings. Dave Hemmer also suggested that we invite the Executive Board to our
Fall Fling Birthday Party.
Dave Hemmer also shared that if we send our project
information, picture, newspaper articles, thank you, to him, he will scan them
for the achieve files and also place the information on the pioneer website.
Jodie will begin doing this.
Jodie expressed concern about the lack of reporting of
hours. We need to find a way to make this better. The volunteer hours reported
is how the Pioneers receive their funding from Qwest.
Our next meeting will be held on Sept 22nd, 2005 during our Fall Fling.
Respectfully submitted,
Jodie Crowell
Sec-Treas.
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Western Plains Telecom Pioneers
Minutes of Business Meeting
April 27th, 2005
President, Charles Hecht called the meeting to order at the Eagles Club in
Windom. After the Pledge of Allegiance there was a moment of silence to remember
those that have been lost. Member and partners attending were Kris Swanson, Jim
and Joan Bregel, Chuck and Leatrice Hecht, Peggy Palkovich, Dorothy Benson,
George and Doris Bakalyar, Ralph Hunstad, Vice-President Gloria Smith and Jodie
Crowell, Sec. Treas. The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved with
a correction to the year on old business item one.
OLD BUSINESS
A motion was made by Jim and 2nd by George to pay for noon
lunch for business meeting. Motion carried.
Chuck shared that Gary Greb will come to Windom to show
individuals how to reprogram cell phones to dial 911 only. Gloria made a motion,
Jim seconded that we pay for his motel room and schedule him to come to Windom.
Motion carried.
Leatrice Hecht provided a report on the Chapter meeting.
The Telecom Pioneers have been approved to do the calendars again in 2005. The
Chapter is also thinking of adding another scholarship to their program.
NEW BUSINESS
Gloria presented a request and a motion to approved $250.00
for the Library Day at the Dome for the Jackson Library. George 2nd and the
motion carried.
Gloria also presented a request from the Jackson Trails for
bike, walking paths and rest area. Jim made a motion to donate $50.00, Ralph
seconded, Motion carried.
Jodie presented a request from the Eagles Auxiliary for
funds to replace the table linens in their dining room. The Eagles Club does not
charge us for using their meeting space, so Jim made a motion to donate $200.00,
George 2nd and the motion carried.
The Northern Spring Fling was held and there were about 35
people attending. Discussion was held about a Southern Spring Fling. The
attendance has been very low and it had to be cancelled last year because the
minimum number was not achieved. Jodie made a motion to move it to a Fall Fling.
Gloria 2nd. Motion carried.
Chuck and Leatrice showed some digital pictures of
switchboards that are available for the museum in Jackson. Gloria and Dorothy
picked out one and Chuck will make arrangements to get it here.
Kris asked about purchasing the stuffing material for the
Hug-A-Bears. The consensus was that she should just go ahead and buy it and
submit a voucher for the expense.
Leatrice had purchased some tote bags at the Chapter
Meeting. Gloria made a motion, Dorothy seconded for the Council to buy the
Pioneer tote bags and use them as door prizes at our Fall Flings.
Chuck reported that our MBNA money was denied this time
because the reports were not postmarked by the 8th of the month. Jodie was not
aware of this change. The last word she received was that they needed to be post
marked by the 10th. Discussion was held about communications from the Chapter
regarding these types of changes. It was agreed that it needs to improve and it
will be asked at the next Chapter meeting.
Our next meeting will be held on July 13th, 2005.
Respectfully submitted,
Jodie Crowell
Sec-Treas.
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SPECIAL CONF CALL MEETING
June 27th, 2005
A special call was held to discuss a request received from KDOM/City of Windom
for funds to erect a second story on the shelter house/media building at the new
Legion Field Park. Attending were Chuck Hecht, Jim & Joan Bregel, George
Bakalyar and Jodie Crowell. A motion was made by Joan and seconded by George to
donate $250.00 to the project. The motion carried.
Meeting adjourned.
Respectfully submitted,
Jodie Crowell
Sec-Treas.
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