Community Center
As it was identified in our strategic planning session, the addition of a community center to Henderson would be a significant asset. This idea has been discussed for many years, but no conclusions have been reached, so the project never moves forward. With the completion of the strategic planning process, a group was formed with people interested in making this project a reality, which was the first step in moving forward with the plan to bring a community center into Henderson. More formal meetings will be following this fall to take the next steps toward making this plan a reality. At this point the Henderson Chamber of Commerce is the driving force behind getting this group to meet regularly to increase their possibility of success. In addition to the Henderson Chamber of Commerce, the City of Henderson and Henderson Health Care Services are also significant stakeholders in the future of this project. These three organization and key community members will continue to work together to make the dream of having a community center become a reality.
Attract and Retain Residents Group
Another important group that began through the strategic planning process, was a group interested in attracting and retaining residents in Henderson. It is obvious that the brain drain is effecting the Midwest. Large cities and smaller communities can see their youngest brightest residents moving out of town and out of the state. This group is focused on keeping those people in Henderson and bringing in others who will stimulate our economy, fill our school with their children, run our businesses and help us maintain the community that we have. While this project is also in the early stages of formation and planning, the Henderson Chamber of Commerce is guiding this group through the formation process until they are up and running on their own.
Heritage Committee
The Henderson Heritage Committee was formed by a group of people interested in passing on their heritage to the next generation. This group continues to promote the community’s heritage through the Henderson Mennonite Heritage Park and community events they host each year. In June, this committee plans and organizes the Annual Garden Tour, which allows those interested to view different gardens throughout the community. This event not only raises money for projects at heritage park, but it also brings people to the community from the surrounding area. In September, Henderson Mennonite Heritage Park hosts Heritage Day, where many volunteers gather at the park to give demonstrations on how life was when immigrants moved to the Henderson area. They give demonstrations in making apple cider, spinning rope, washing clothes, baking bread, stuffing sausage, and many more tasks completed without electricity and running water. During this one day event over 500 people from Henderson and the surrounding area visit the park. In December, the heritage committee plans and organizes the Annual Holiday Tour of Homes. During this event, guests can tour local homes to see their decorations for the holiday. This event has an impressive attendance bringing many people to Henderson. The heritage committee is one of the most active volunteer groups in the community of Henderson. They are successfully reminding this community and the surrounding area about Henderson’s Heritage, creating ways to keep citizens active, and bringing new people to visit the community.
 |
| Heritage Day at Henderson Mennonite Heritage Park. |
With the recently completed Henderson strategic planning sessions, a housing development group was created to be the driving force behind new housing in the community. The last house that was built in Henderson was in 2005. While there are people moving into Henderson and the population is not decreasing, no houses are being built because there is not a significant amount of space available for new housing construction. With many employees in the community reaching retirement age, it is important to have a good housing stock, including new homes, available for potential residents looking to move to the community in the next ten years. This is why the housing development group was formed to create and follow through with a plan for housing development. At this point the housing development group is in the early stages of forming. As a result, the Henderson Chamber of Commerce is working to get this group up and running on their own.
Henderson Recreation Department
The Henderson Recreation Department is a group that is continuing to work to create opportunities for recreation within the community of Henderson. This includes the organization and facilitation of the summer recreational league softball and baseball program. Each year this season starts with T-ball games in April and lasts until the end of June with all other ages groups. After the recreation league season is completed, an adult recreational evening is set based on interest. With the completion of the Softball/Baseball Complex, the group is continuing to enhance the complex each year to increase community involvement and use of the complex. Future plans for this group include the construction of a soccer field adjacent to the Henderson Sports Complex.
Youth Involvement in the Local Newspaper
During the strategic planning session, it was realized that residents were wanting more from the local newspaper. Without a news reporter, the local newspaper’s main source of news is from area papers, article submissions and press releases. As a result, the content of the papers is lacking some weeks making it difficult for residents to want to purchase the paper. With less community members buying the paper, less people are informed about upcoming events and newsworthy items in the community. Due to this problem, one of the focus groups, during the strategic planning session discussed this issue and wondered if the local high school students interested in journalism could work on articles for the paper. This would not only give them additional education and experience in their field of interest, but it would also give them a portfolio of printed articles that they could use in the future. By encouraging and supporting the youth through this journalism opportunity, the local newspaper and residents would also benefit by having more content in the paper and as a result sell more papers. As with other projects started during the recent strategic planning process, this project is in the early stages. Currently the Henderson Chamber of Commerce is working with Heartland Community Schools to get a program established for students in 2011.
Henderson Community Foundation
Through an earlier strategic planning process, the community saw the need for a local foundation to be formed to create an avenue for residents to donated funds within the community. As a result the Henderson Community Foundation was formed. Over the years, the foundation has been used to make donations and encourage charitable giving to organization in the community and the surrounding area. In addition to collecting and distributing funds, the foundation also creates a yearly mailing, which is sent to residents and community alumni about different fund raising projects taking place in the community. This mailer not only encourages end of the year giving, but it also educates the greater community of Henderson about what is happening in the community. In addition to this newsletter, the foundation also gives out two scholarships each spring to high school seniors. For the scholarship, applicants must write an essay about why they would like to move back to Henderson in the future. This scholarship is used as a way to encourage the youth of the community to return to Henderson after they have completed college or when they are ready to start a family. The Henderson Community Foundation is made up of seven volunteers from the community and the Henderson Chamber of Commerce Executive Director who is responsible for organizing the quarterly meetings with the foundation president.
 |
| Henderson Community Foundation Scholarship recipients Quint Geis and Brianna Rader with 2009 Foundation President Brian Janzen. |
In 2009, the Henderson Chamber of Commerce became aware of the interest for a Farmers Market in the community. Since Henderson is a community where generations of families have cooked from scratch and had gardens, no one was sure that a farmers market would attract many people. During the first summer, the farmers market was started on a trial basis. Everyone was surprised to see how many people supported the farmers market. Young families enjoyed purchasing the locally grown food and spending the evening in the downtown park while older individuals enjoyed the social atmosphere and purchased the items they were no longer physically able to make or grow on their own. As a result, the Henderson Chamber of Commerce organized the 2010 Farmers Market season with 5-10 vendors at each farmers market from June 1st to August 31st. This project has been well supported by the community and has enhanced the quality of life for a wide age range of people.
 |
| Kathy Wismer selling locally grown produce to Shannon Siebert and Tesa Siebert during the 2010 Farmers Market. |
No comments:
Post a Comment