Lake Spokane Alliance

Successful Day of Taxes completed

2011-03-14T23:33:00.000-07:00

3 certified AARP Tax Aide Counselors helped community members complete their taxes at the Tum Tum Community Center recently. Everyone was grateful for having this service available in our area. There are still several sites in the Spokane area that will be doing taxes until April 15th. The locations and times are listed in the previous post.

Free Tax Prep in our area

2011-01-25T15:00:00.000-08:00

All of these sites will offer electronic filing for a quick refund.

Tum Tum Community Center ~ Feb. 26th ~ 10am til 4pm
6424 Hwy. 291 ~ by appointment only
lakespokanetaxprep@gmail.com or 466-1497

February 1 - April 15

Deer Park City Library ~ Fridays ~ 11 am til 3pm
208 S. Forest ~ 1st come 1st served

Spokane YWCA ~ 930 N. Monroe - 1st come 1st served
Tuesdays 4pm til 7pm and Saturdays 9am til 2pm
Closed March 5-12

Spokane Co. United Way ~ Saturdays 9am til 2pm
920 N. Washington St. Suite 100 ~ 1st come 1st served

US Court House ~ 920 W. Riverside rm 489
Monday thru Thursdays 10am til 2pm
1st come 1st served ~ Closed April 4-7th

What to bring:
* 2009 tax return
* Valid picture ID
* All 2010 W-2's, 1098, 1099 for both you and spouse
* Social Security cards for you, spouse and all members of household
* Proof of other income for you or spouse and banking information
* Child care provider information
* Property tax information if homeowner
* 2010 Home Purchase Credit information (if you purchased home in 2010)

Taxes done for free!

2011-01-24T22:01:00.000-08:00

Take Your Money, You Earned It!

Did you earn less than $48,362 in 2010?
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) could pay you as much as $5,666 based on your earnings and family situation.

You could receive:
$1,000 per child for the Child Tax Credit
$3,050 for one child for the Earned Income Tax Credit
$5,036 for two children for the Earned Income Tax Credit
$5,666 for three children or more from the Earned Income Tax Credit
If you are age 25-64, had no children living with you in 2010 and earned
less than $13,460, you can receive up to $457.

On Saturday, February 26th from 10am til 4pm at the Tum Tum Community Center (6424 Hwy. 291) there will be certified and trained AARP Tax-Aide Volunteers available to prepare your taxes for free. To schedule, please email your name & phone number to lakespokanetaxprep@gmail.com or call Diane at 466-1497.

Tax Volunteers are trained to assist in filing tax forms and basic schedules, including the 1040, 1040A and 1040EZ. Taxpayers with complex tax returns are advised to see paid tax assistance.

Community Map

2011-01-24T21:59:00.000-08:00

Community Mapping Event - July 2010

2011-01-24T21:52:00.000-08:00

Debra Kollock from WSU Extension, guided a group of people who had participated in the Tum Tum Horizons Project in the many ways that the Horizons Project has benefited the Lake Spokane Area.

Community Mapping Event

2010-07-06T14:40:00.000-07:00

You are invited to join us help do a fun and creative project called "Community Mapping" on Tuesday, July 20th from 6pm til 8 pm at the Tum Tum Community Center

* Did you attend a Study Circle, Leadership Plenty, Action Forum or Community Meeting?
* Do you think that the Horizons Program has benefited our community?
* What impact have you seen or experienced personally because of the Horizons Program?

These are just an example of what areas we will be exploring.

When we illustrate the ripple effects of Horizons and Leadership Plenty, we will see the impact it has had on our community. We can then continue to create stronger partnerships within the community and potentially use the information to find more grant money to benefit our community..

Community economic development professionals and elected leaders are seeing the value of the Horizon's Project and we want to be able to demonstrate and validate the effect that it has had in our community.

Dinner will be served from 6 til 6:30pm ~ Please RSVP to ogle.dm@gmail.com

If you are unable to attend, we would like to hear your story, email Diane at ogle.dm@gmail.com

Resource Link, Food Bank & 2nd Harvest

2010-07-06T14:34:00.000-07:00

* Resource Link at Lakeside Library on July 9th (10am til 3pm)
* Resource Link at the July Tum Tum Food Bank on July 24th (10am til 3pm)
* 2nd Harvest Food Mobile Food Bank @ Tum Tum Community Center on Aug. 4th (12pm til 2pm)

MAY 11, 2010

2010-05-13T00:03:00.000-07:00

2ND HARVEST MOBILE FOOD BANK
AND
RESOURCE LINK
55 families served that included 162 individuals
2,470 pounds of fresh perishable food distributed
11 volunteers worked 38.5 hours
6 families accessed needed services through Rural Resources

THANK YOU to Drew Meuer from 2nd Harvest who delivered the Mobile Food Bank, Rural Resources Intake Specialist Sue Konitzer, the Tum Tum Community Center and the fantastic volunteers who helped to pass out fresh pears, apples, carrots, potatoes, bread, pasta & apple juice on a weather perfect day!

FIGHTING HUNGER, FEEDING HOPE: Second Harvest brings community resources together to feed people in need through empowerment, education and partnerships. You can be part of the solution to hunger. Visit www.2-harvest.org to learn more.

RESOURCE LINK: Find programs, services and other resources to help you manage temporary financial crises and improve your life. Meet one-on-one with a resource specialist from Rural Resources to learn about help that's available to you - utility assistance, job training, weatherization, housing, food and more - and how to access it. Visit www.ruralresources.org for the latest information and schedule.
Resource Link is currently available at the Lakeside Library every 2 weeks.

NE Washington Trends

2010-05-11T08:07:00.000-07:00

Ann Fackenthall and Diane Ogle participated in the Northeast Washington Trends Focus Group through the Institute for Public Policy and Economic Analysis at EWU this past year. The website is now live and available! Check it out at www.northeastwashingtontrends.org

Northeast Washington Trends exists to give the communities in Ferry, Pend Oreille, and Stevens Counties a way to assess how they are doing in key quality-of-life areas, such as education, health, and the environment. The Trends also seeks to improve local, public decision making by providing relevant data in an easily navigable website. The data are offered as neutral information for all parties involved in public policy issues.

Community Garden

2010-05-10T11:07:00.000-07:00

A Community Garden Proposal was brought to the LSA monthly meeting on May 7th during their regular monthly meeting. A Community Garden Committee was formed and a committee member will be taking the proposal to the next Lake Spokane Community Church Board Meeting for their approval on May 20th. Highlights of the proposal included an "Overview", "Purpose", "Resources" (already donated) and "Needs" to get it started for this growing season.

Rural Resources & 2nd Harvest

2010-05-10T10:54:00.000-07:00

Several members of the LSA Leadership Team recently met with Barry Lamont & Kelly Charlton to discuss how to improve the accessibility of "Resource Link" to our area and what we could do to support the Tum Tum Food Bank. As a result of that meeting, the intake specialist from Rural Resources will be at the Tum Tum Community Center on May 11th from noon til 2pm along with a 2nd Harvest Food Mobile Food Bank. There will be free produce and perishable products available to low income families and those in need of food assistance. No appointment is necessary to participate.
Also as a result of that meeting, Rural Resources is going to provide a much needed additional refrigerator for the Tum Tum Food Bank and will be renting office space at the Community Center to better serve the participants of the Food Bank.

Senior Nutrition & Excercise Program

2010-05-10T10:44:00.000-07:00

The Tum Tum Community Center has expanded their services to include the "Senior Nutrition" program to the Lake Spokane/Tum Tum area of southern Stevens County. The frozen meals are stored at the Community Center and delivered weekly. A freezer was donated for storage at the Community Center. Also in the works is an exercise program especially for our Seniors.

Money Smart

2010-05-10T09:58:00.000-07:00

Jim Hayes has started working with the Lakeside High School DECA & Leadership Group to train them on the FCIC "Money Smart" program. The H.S. students will then teach the program to the Lakeside Middle School students. The program consists of 8 modules: Bank On It, Check On It, Setting Financial Goals, Pay Yourself First, Borrowing Basics, Charge It Right, Paying For College & Cars and A Roof Over Your Head.

RURAL REFLECTIONS CONFERENCE

2010-04-12T21:48:00.000-07:00

From Horizons

Ann Fackenthall, Tienne Rogers, Sandy Wakefield, Diane Ogle, Jim Hayes & Ron Crigger attended the Rural Reflections Conference in Moses Lake, WA March 19 & 20th. The conference was the first gathering of all 40 Horizons Communities from WA State who have participated in the Horizons Program since 2004.

The conference was an opportunity to learn from each other, share our successes and celebrate together. The first evening began with keynote speaker, Mario Villanueva, USDA Rural Development Director. There was then a celebration of the inspiring ways in which the 40 Horizons Communities have re-opened lines of communication, assessed the causes of poverty, and identified and implemented strategies that are boosting community pride, addressing local issues, and leading to economic improvements.

The second day was filled with over 40 workshops within 3 categories; Asset Development, Public Policy and Community Leadership/Capacity Building.

Thank you to WSU Extension Horizons, WA State Department of Commerce and the NW Area Foundation for their partnership in supporting rural Washington State!

SOWING SEEDS FOR SUPPER

2010-04-12T21:17:00.000-07:00

Myself, Sandy Wakefield and a community member attended the “Sowing Seeds for Supper” workshops in Colville March 27. It was sponsored by WSU Stevens County Extension and the Colville Community Garden. We divided up the workshops and attended different ones so that we could compare notes later. There was a good variety of topics that will come in handy as we pursue partnering with the Tum Tum Community Center and Lake Spokane Community Church to establish a community garden in out area. We were introduced to many good resources in the form of people, websites and literature and are looking forward to putting it to good use.
Kevin Lewis, Tum Tum Horizons/LSA board member.

On our way to a 501c3!

2010-03-11T18:35:00.000-08:00

AARP Tax Aide

2010-03-10T22:04:00.001-08:00

This week the Tum Tum Community Center graciously donated space for 2 days of free tax preparation. Two trained & certified AARP Tax Aide Counselors from Spokane and 1 from Nine Mile Falls were available for both scheduled and drop in appointments.

Stevens County WSU Extension Classes available

2010-03-10T21:35:00.000-08:00

March 11 ~ Growing Wine Grape in Stevens County
March 17 ~ Successful Export Strategies
March 27 ~ Sowing Seeds for Supper
April 2 ~ Grantwriting & Fundraising Workshop

Several Youth Development Opportunities

For a complete calendar of events visit
http://stevens.wsu.edu/calendar.htm

Community Garden

2010-03-10T21:09:00.000-08:00

Have you always wanted to grow a vegetable or herb garden but didn't have the time or experience to make a full sized vegetable garden? Or maybe you have a yard full or rock or just not the right space. A community garden might be just right for you.
Community gardens create a place to grow crops for individual use or to share. You work with other community members to learn and share gardening lore.
We have donated space, water and horse manure. Other than seeds and some wire fencing to keep the deer out, all we need is people willing to work their garden.
The Community Garden Committee will be meeting soon. If you are interested in planting, helping or just curious, call 276-7728.

Lake Spokane Alliance and Horizons Project

Stevens County Horizons Communities Come Together

2010-02-02T23:03:00.000-08:00

Tuesday, December 8th, our Horizons Leadership team met in Chewelah with other Stevens County Horizons Community Leaders to determine if our county is interested in forming an asset building coalition and to hear from Paul Knox. Paul is from the Washington Asset Building Coalition and he presented information about asset building, local coalition actions, and future state funding opportunities available to communities interested in forming coalitions, whose collaborative efforts help individuals and families build savings and become financially independent.

Coalition partners generally include financial institutions, community action and social service agencies, housing and micro-enterprise groups, local funders and government organizations.

There are currently 15 coalitions throughout Washington working in partnership on activities such as:

* Promoting the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
* Offering Individual Development Accounts
* Developing and promoting lending policies for asset building
* Promoting savings, banking and debt reduction
* Expanding financial literacy opportunities and outcomes

WA Asset Building Coalition

2009-11-20T11:44:00.001-08:00

Jim Hayes & Kevin Lewis attend the Washington Asset Building Coalition "Survive & Thrive" conference in Tacoma Nov. 5th & 6th.

Take away points:
From Jim: Community Asset Building starts with education. And education can start as early as kindergarten and never has to stop! To that end, Jim is planning on starting Financial Education classes during "Tuesday at Two" series beginning in January at the Tum Tum Community Center.
From Kevin: Learning about EITC and the amount of money that is made available to individuals through that. Resources that are available from USDA, HUD, etc., for home ownership and repair. Financial education can make a huge difference in the lives of people struggling to make ends meet. The AARP Tax-Aide program, available at the Tum Tum Community Center this spring, helps to bring needed money to struggling households.

Grange Dance & Dessert Social

2009-11-03T22:09:00.000-08:00

Saturday Night, November 14, 6:00 til 9:00 pm

Bring your dancing shoes and sweet tooth to the Williams Valley Grange for an evening of fun!

Enjoy some great music and the company of your friends and neighbors. Music provided by local musicians. There is no cover charge, although donations will be accepted at the door.

Proceeds to benefit the Lake Spokane 2010 4th of July Celebration.

This is a no alcohol event, beverages provided. Please sign up to bring a dessert with either Kristy at Suncrest Insurance Services 466-3203 or Wanda at Suncrest Rentals 466-2300.

LOCATION DETAILS: Williams Valley Grange is located at the NE corner of Swensen and Casberg Burroughs Rd. SW of Deer Park. From Hwy. 291 turn north from Zips on Swenson Rd. til you hit dirt and you will be there.

WSU Sociology Students at Work for You!

2009-10-31T17:29:00.001-07:00

Sociology 433, an undergraduate class at Washington State University, has been researching options and resources for topics that are important to your rural communities as you work to reduce poverty. Topics include: affordable housing, neighborhood safety, youth activities and much, much more.

Your community may be in contact with one of these teams, but all of their research may be relevant to the issues you are addressing. Click to the Horizons website http://www.horizons.wsu.edu/project/horizons3/community.html to read about their work.

Turkey Shoot

2009-10-30T14:51:00.000-07:00

Pilot Project

2009-09-21T21:18:00.000-07:00

Saturday, September 26th, 9:00 am til 1:00 pm the Tum Tum Horizons project will be making available to those attending the Tum Tum Food & Clothing Bank the opportunity to access programs and services available to them through Rural Resources, DSHS programs, Worksource and Basic Health.

Our goal for the morning is to talk with the people who need assistance in getting access to what would help them out most. We will be using the website ParentHelp123.org to see if they qualify for Food Stamps, health benefits, unemployment & WIC. We have the energy assistance pre-applications available as well as weatherization information.

We had already been publicizing this event when we found out about Resoure Link, the joint project of Rural Resources Community Action and the Stevens County Public Library System which comes to our Lakeside Library on October 2nd. We are very excited to be able to partner with Resource Link to connect people to the help they need, including job training, child and family programs, housing, food, senior services, transportation, and utility assistance and weatherization.

Join us for a lunch BBQ and meet our Horizons Leadership team!

USDA STUDY FINDS RURAL COMMUNITIES BENEFIT FROM GREATER BROADBAND INTERNET ACCES

2009-09-18T23:26:00.000-07:00

WASHINGTON, August 18, 2009 - A new USDA economic analysis has found that rural communities with greater broadband Internet access had greater economic growth than areas with less access. The study, 'Broadband Internet's Value for Rural America' by economists at USDA's Economic Research Service, compared counties that had broadband access relatively early - by 2000 - with similarly situated counties that had little or no broadband access. Employment growth was higher and non-farm private earnings greater in counties with a longer history of broadband availability.

"Rebuilding and revitalizing rural communities is one of my top goals and a key component of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, and this study reaffirms that expanding access to broadband is a catalyst for economic development," said Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack.

Rural America has shared in the growth of the Internet economy, the study found. Such benefits as online course offerings for students and continuing education programs have improved educational opportunities, especially in small isolated rural areas. Telemedicine and telehealth have been hailed as vital to health care provision in rural communities. Most employment growth in the U.S. over the last several decades has been in the service sector, which is especially conducive for broadband applications. Broadband allows rural areas to compete for low-and high-end service jobs, from call centers to software development. The farm sector is increasingly comprised of farm businesses that buy inputs and make sales online, the study found.

WE AGREE! Time and again, the need for high speed internet was voiced in the Horizons meetings as a high priority to bring to our community. The growing opportunities for education, access to medical information, and employment are needed as an option for people that will help bring them from poverty to prosperity. Whether our community is awarded a 2009 USDA Community Connect Grant this year or not, it is one of the goals of the Tum Tum Horizons Group to continue to do what we can to bring broadband to the Tum Tum/Lake Spokane area.

Resource Link

2009-09-16T23:18:00.000-07:00

NEW from
Rural Resources!

Coming to Lakeside Library October 2nd!!

Connecting rural residents with vital program, services

Rural Stevens County residents will soon be able to go to their local libraries for free and personalized information on programs and services that could improve their lives.

Resource Link, a joint project of Rural Resources Community Action and the Stevens County Public Library System, will connect people in outlying areas to the help they need, including job training, child and family programs, housing, food, senior services, transportation, and utility assistance and weatherization.

Starting the week of September 21, 2009, a resource specialist from Rural Resources will be visiting nine libraries to meet one-on-one with residents interested in learning about local, state and federal programs and services for which they may be eligible.

"It can be a burden, particularly in winter, for rural residents to come to our offices in Colville," said Rural Resources Executive Director Barry Lamont. "So we're bringing Rural Resources to them."

Funding for the joint project comes from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the federal stimulus package enacted early this year to help improve the economy in the wake of the recession.

Stevens County Library Director Amanda McKeraghan says the program will be a welcome addition to the many resources already offered at the nine libraries.

"People living in outlying areas already depend on their local libraries for other resources including books, magazines, multimedia and Internet access, so basing this outreach project here was a natural choice," she said.

Results from Community Poverty Reduction Survey

2009-09-14T23:36:00.000-07:00

The results of this survey are organized around three guiding poverty reduction goals identified by our funder, Northwest Area Foundation.
The surveys were available online, in the Outpost newspaper and given out to various community groups over the course of 2 months.
These are the top 3 results from each of the identified goals:
Increased individual assest/wealth among low income people

Financial literacy/education
Promote reduced health care costs
Promote energy savings

Increased community capacity to achieve sustainable prosperity

Improve community communication
Expand workforce training
Improve community leadership skills

Improved public policy to reduce poverty

Lower taxes for business start-ups
Promote renewable energy
Increase funding for early childhood education

When asked what one project, activity or strategy should we undertake to most reduce poverty and promote community prosperity, these were some of the suggestions:

Youth Activity Center/activities for kids
Active Community Center
Better transportation options
Create community effort to assist low income elderly & disabled with home maintenance and improved living standards
Educational opportunities
Create a business friendly environment
Develop more community park options
Increase access to resources

Community Visioining phase complete!

2009-09-14T21:35:00.000-07:00

On Thursday, September 10th we celebrated and reported on the completion of the Community Visioning phase of the Horizons Project!

We want to thank the Tum Tum Community Center for hosting the event and for your participation as a community over the past year!

40 participants in Study Circles
47 people attended the Action Forum in November
28 attended Leadership Plenty this past spring
36 people participated in the Strategic Planning Sessions in June

Over the course of the year in addition to community members, we have had two of our County Commissioners, Merrill Ott & Larry Guenther attend, as well as State Representative Shelly Short, Sheila Stalf representing Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rogers, two representatives from Rural Resources, Kelly Scalf & Linda Daniels Norris and Debra Kollock from WSU Extention attend various meetings.
Two separate surveys were used to gather information about issues related to our community. Results of those will be posted separately.

Our knowledge of what poverty means in our community has increased and our motivation for continuing to move forward is to create "Real Solutions for Real People!"

WHAT NEXT

2009-09-13T20:27:00.000-07:00

The Horizons Leadership team has been working through the summer to finalize our Strategic Plan for the next couple of years. Amazingly, some of the original needs identified in our community through Study Groups last fall & our June Community Visioning meeting, are already on their way to being met!!

1. High Speed Internet - we will find out in October whether the Tum Tum area was awarded a USDA grant - if we aren't awarded this grant, there are other options available
2. Resource Directory - thanks to S.C.A.A.T.(Cop Shop), this is already available online
3. Easier Access to Basic Resouces

Pilot program on September 26th for M.A.R.S. (Mobile Access to Resource Services)
Partnering with Stevens County Library, Tri-County Economic Development District, WSU Extension & Rural Resources to promote and help bring about a "Community Knowledge Center" of which a grant has already been applied for
Work with the Tum Tum Community Center Board to make the Community Center an access point for needed resources

4. Form a Asset Building Coalition in Stevens County with other Horizon Communities

We have two people attending the statewide Coalition meeting in November

5. Bring in Adult Education through Spokane Community College, Institute for Extended Learning

Technology skills
Personal Finances
G.E.D.

6. Improve Transportation options along the Hwy. 291 corridor

2 people attended the NE Washington Regional Transportation Planning Organization meeting in August
We have learned of several resources already available

7. Partner with A.A.R.P. to provide free tax preparation in our area starting in January, 2010

Already have a Site Coordinator
Our site has been approved through AARP

As you can see, there is a lot happening!!!

1st Draft of our Vision Statement

2009-07-20T21:41:00.001-07:00

By 2012 we will provide local access to County, State and Federal resources to the residents of the Tum Tum Community who are struggling through poverty and are limited in their access to public resources. We will help them to become thriving members of the community by providing at least three access points. There would be either a mobile unit or transportation would be available to each of the access sites. Each access site would have trained personnel, internet access and telecommunications available to those seeking community resources.
Our objective is to provide access to resources locally, making those resources available to those in poverty so that they have the needed tools to become a vital part of the community.

2009-07-09T15:56:00.000-07:00

Horizons Project Update!

In June, 28 members of the TumTum/Lake Spokane Community got together to discuss and begin the planning for the next phase of this 18 month project.

Two of our County Commissioners, Merrill Ott & Larry Guenther; two representatives from Rural Resources, Kelly Scalf & Linda Daniels Norris; State Representative Shelly Short, Sheila Stalf representing Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rogers and Debra Kollock from WSU Extension, were also in attendance.

By the end of August we will have a Strategic Plan for the next 2 years that will outline implementation our ideas. The following are some of the ideas being worked on:

Mobile Access to Resource Services (M.A.R.S.)

Transportation within the lower Stevens County area to access services

Cost effective internet access to provide educational, business and other opportunities

Tax preparation & filing

Financial classes

Come and see us at the Cornerstone Community Church Neighbor Days on August 1^st We have a free gift at our booth, just for stopping by!

2009-06-05T07:37:00.000-07:00

College Bound Scholarship

College Bound is designed to motivate and prepare students to pursue a college education. It is a four-year scholarship that will cover the cost of college tuition, fees, and books.

Low-income students in Washington, who sign a pledge in 7th, 8th, or 9th* grade promising to graduate from high school and to demonstrate good citizenship, are eligible.

*9th graders (students who were 8th graders during the 2007-08 school year) have until June 30, 2009 to sign up.
This is a one-time exception.

Check out this website for more details and an application:

http://www.hecb.wa.gov/paying/waaidprgm/CollegeBoundScholarship.asp

2009-06-03T02:27:00.000-07:00

YOU’RE INVITED TO
A NIGHT OUT IN THE COMMUNITY!!!

Need help with child or elder care cost? Got ya covered!
Need help with gas to attend? Got ya covered!
Dinner & dessert, got it covered too!!

Please join us on June 9th and June 16th from 6 til 9 pm
Tum Tum Community Center, 6424 Hwy. 291.
Dinner starts at 5:15pm
To be sure there is enough food, please RSVP by June 5
at 466-1497 or Ogle.dm@gmail.com

The Tum Tum/Lake Spokane Horizon leadership team is facilitating an open discussion with local residents about needs in our community. Information gathered will be incorporated in our Vision/Strategic Plan for the community into 2012. At the culmination of the project, there is the possibility of grant money being awarded to help address some of the identified community concern:

• Provide assistance for low income, disabled and elderly
• Quality activities for kids & adults
• Upgrade the Tum Tum Community Center
• Home repairs & energy assistance
• Transportation

WHAT’S ON YOUR LIST? ~ WE NEED YOUR OPINION!!!

We can keep on doing the same thing we have always done expecting different results or we can all come together and create change!!

2009-06-03T02:04:00.000-07:00

FREE EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITY!!!

Whether you're new to technology or a seasoned IT professional, Microsoft can help get you the skills, training and certification needed to compete in today's technology-driven workplace. Through Elevate America, you can take advantage of free and low-cost resources that will get you workforce ready.

Call 509-685-6015 to request a voucher(You are calling Rural Resources in Colville). Only call once please. Someone will get back with you as soon as possible.
Receive a call back. Fill out the voucher registration form over the phone.
You will either get a voucher number over the phone, or via email with step by step instructions on how to get started. You have until July 31st to activate the voucher.
Go online to: www.microsoft.com/About/CorporateCitizenship/US/CommunityInvestment/ElevateAmerica.aspx and enter your voucher number. Once activated you have 12 months to complete a module.
Choose a module and get started!
Once finished print out the certificate of completion in order to get another voucher for your next module (should you choose)
Once ready for the exam you will need an exam voucher. Then find the certi-port location nearest you (www.certiport.com) and go and take the exam. When you pass you will be Microsoft certified.

2009-06-03T01:18:00.000-07:00

Two of the Tum Tum Horizons Leadership Team had the opportunity to attend a wonderful gathering of other Horizons community's in Chewelah on Thursday, May 21st with Harry Boyte. Harry is the Co-directory for Democracy and Citizenship at the Hubert H. Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs, University of Minnesota. He has been asked by the NW Area Foundation to document the Horizons program throught the Foundation's 7 state region.
Harry asked each of us to talk about why we were involved in Horizons and to share our unique experience in how it has either affected us personally or as a community.
Some of the comments made:

It has empowered our community to make change from within
We have networked people with ideas together with those who can make it happen
We have learned how to integrate newcomers into our community
"Reducing poverty by reducing barriers"
Creating hope for our community
Connecting the past and the future
Gives our youth an opportunity to make their own mark on our community

IDEAS to ACTION

2009-05-17T22:43:00.000-07:00

May12, 2009 "Ideas to Action" meeting was held at the
Tum Tum Community Center.
This was a community forum to let everyone know what has been happening, during our Leadership Plenty training. Public officials were invited to attend the meeting, along with the public. Rep. Shelly Short from the 7th Legislative District along with County Commissioner Larry Guenther were in attendance.

Dana Michie gave a report on Cost Effective Communications for all in the community. During his presentation, it was learned that Ecliptixnet is very interested in bringing Broadband service to the Tum Tum area. They are looking into a USDA Grant for this project. The added benefit, to our community,would be in the form of a new community center or up-dating our existing Tum Tum Community Center. Another benefit would be that once Ecliptixnet tower/s are in place, it could be a jumping off spot for cell phone companies. Ecliptixnet could lease space to interested cellular providers, thus improving the cell phone service, in the Tum Tum area.

Ron Crigger gave a report on Public Transportation. It was learned that if there could be 150 people per day riding an STA bus, they might explorer the possibility of a route out in our area. Another discussion was to look at seeing how we might get a bus for a local route going between the top of Big Sandy Hill out to Ford. So may exciting possibilities came during from Ron's presentation.

Phil Putman gave a report on Events that Create enthusiasm for our Community. Many different ideas have come up from having an outdoor summer movie event, to having our own bowling alley, should there be an entrepreneur who would like to pursue that idea. The main focus right now is the 4th of July event, held at the Lakeside Middle School. A Pancake Breakfast will be held, at the Pizza Factory, on Saturday May 16, as a fund raiser for the 4th of July event. Donations are continuing to come in from private individuals & businesses. Our 4th of July event will have craft/food vendors, a car show, possible parade, live music/entertainment & fire works in the evening. Please come & join us for a fun filled day.

Jim Hayes gave a report on Easier Access to Basic Resources for people in need. One of the exciting ideas, is to have a mobile bus that would go throughout the communities. This bus could provide Internet service to individuals, it could help with tax preparation, it could also provide the means to have individuals from the County Office in Colville come down & be more readily available for residents here in NW Stevens County

Having our elected officials present, along with representatives from the WSU Extension office, made for a great brainstorming evening. Information was exchanged with the Tum Tum/Lake Spokane Horizon group, which will no doubt help them in pursuing the ideas, which the community has addressed, as a need.

Thank you to all who attended the May 12th meeting.

Please come & join us at our meetings, as we move forward into the "Visioning Project". This is your community & there are two paths to choose from. Either you stay the course & do nothing or you move in a different direction, helping to promote & improve your community.

BROADBAND INTERNET

2009-05-14T13:36:00.000-07:00

BROADBAND INTERNET POSSIBILITY IN TUM TUM! Community Meeting on Thursday, May 21st 7:00 pm at the Tum Tum Community Center

Ecliptixnet is applying for a U.S.D.A. grant to provide high speed internet for individual and business use as well as improving the Tum Tum Community Center to make available at least 10 computer stations with access free for the community to use and wi-fi for others to come in with their laptops. These Rural Development funds would be used to build a wireless network that would also benefit the local infastructure.

Isn't that interesting

2009-05-14T11:16:00.000-07:00

It never ceases to amaze me at how things fall into place when we are faithful to do OUR part. Even though the Horizons Project team is not personally responsible, there a many things happening in our community that we have been discussing at length in our meetings. Some of those things include the DOT camera that is being installed at the top of Big Sandy and getting high speed internet service in the Tum Tum area. Even though we can't take credit for these things I believe that we now have a better vehicle to do some great things in our Tum Tum/Lake Spokane community, that vehicle being the Horizons Project and all the partners that go along with it. Please come be a part of the exciting changes.

Leadership Plenty Class

2009-05-14T11:06:00.000-07:00

Having been the main facilitator for our Leadership Plenty classes I am very pleased with some of the new people that have come on board with the Horizons Project. It is great to see some more, high quality people, getting involved in our community to make it a place where all people have an opportunity to thrive. I would ask, however, that more of you get involved in this project to make our community an even better place to live, where everyone has an opportunity to make advances in their lives if they so choose. If you are part of our Tum Tum/Lake Spokane community, I encourage you to check out what is going on and get involved.

Please Participate in our Community Poverty Reduction Survey

2009-05-07T16:02:00.000-07:00

The Tum Tum Horizons Leadership Team, comprised of your Tum Tum/Lake Spokane area neighbors, is beginning to prepare a strategic action plan to reduce poverty through the year 2012. (This is the third and final development step in our 18-month long Horizons community leadership project which began in September 2008). The first step is to survey residents and community members to see what they feel are the most important and promising strategies to adopt. The next, second step will be to hold two community meetings (June 9 & 16 at 6:00pm at the Tum Tum community Center) to gather additional public input and to write the action plan. Please plan on attending and bring friends/neighbors!

We invite you to take the survey located to your right. All answers are strictly confidential! All input will help us shape the above mentioned Action Plan! Your input is very important and all ideas will be considered in plan development.

This survey is organized around three guiding poverty reduction goals identified by our funder, the Northwest Area Foundation. They include: increased individual assets/wealth among low income people, increased community capacity to achieve sustainable prosperity, and improved public policy solutions to reduce poverty.

Thank you for taking the Community Poverty Reduction Survey.

2009-05-04T10:25:00.000-07:00

We have finished Leadership Plenty, but we are just getting started on the next exciting phase of this process, Community Visioning!!

Join us on May 12th, 7:00 pm for dessert at the Tum Tum Community Center ~ 6424 Hwy. 291~ as we report on the progress we have made with our current 4 areas of concern: Easier access to Basic Resources; Better communication within the community and county, Community Events and Transportation.

What is the Community Visioning Process? It is the process by which we take the ideas generated during Study Circles and Leadership Plenty, mobilize community members and dream big to adopt a shared vision and plan for a better community in the Tum Tum/Lake Spokane area. One of the ways more people will have input, is through a Community Survey. The results of this survey will be used as a tool to help guide us to achieve the 3 guiding poverty reduction goals as identified by our funder, the Northwest Area Foundation. They include: increased individual wealth among low income people, increased community capacity to achieve sustainable prosperity, and improved public policy solutions to reduce poverty. The Tum Tum Horizons group will be encouraging participants from all segments of the community to participate in the survey.

Stay tuned for the results of the survey and updates on the 4 identified areas of concern as we go through this Visioning Process.

2009-04-30T11:08:00.000-07:00

Economic Stimulus Package Helps More Families Access Food Benefits

On April 1, the Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS) increased the income guidelines for the Basic Food Program (food stamps) as part of the recent American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (also known as the Economic Stimulus Package). Because of the Recovery and Reinvestment Act, DSHS was able to increase the income guidelines earlier than the usual October 1 schedule. This change will help more families qualify for food assistance in these economically challenging times.

Review the new income guidelines
Apply online at www.ParentHelp123.org
Application for Benefits (Fill in or print in multiple languages)
[can be used for food, cash and Family Medical]
Call the Family Food Hotline at 1-888-436-6392

Leadership Plenty Training

2009-04-06T09:30:00.000-07:00

Our L.P. training class worked last week in the area of Community Partnerships and specifically how that could help in the 4 identified areas of need from the Community Action Forum. Those areas are; Communication Within the Community, Transportation, Community Events and Accessing Basic Resources. We talked in smaller groups about managing the risks of building those partnerships and how to build effective, long lasting partnerships.

Paul Deakins, the owner of the Pizza Factory, talked with us about the upcoming 4th of July event. Because of Leadership Plenty, one of the members from the training has stepped up to oversee the event this year. There is a lot of work and fund raising that needs to be done quickly and because of the relationships already formed in the L.P. training, some of the connections have already been made.

Leadership Plenty training

2009-03-11T09:23:00.000-07:00

Leadership Plenty participants during training.

2009-02-26T09:37:00.000-08:00

Save the Date….!

For an Inland Northwest HORIZONS workshop on “Food Security and Community Food Systems”. In this day-long workshop for Horizons R2/R3 leadership teams, facilitators, trainers, partners, food banks, community gardens/farmers market boards and volunteers, social service agencies, town officials, etc. you will explore the role and importance of food system’s in terms of community prosperity – from basic health and nutrition to canning to production to distribution to creating value-added byproducts. Don’t miss it!

When: Saturday, March 14th * 8:00am to 5:00pm

Where: Deer Park Elementary School, Deer Park

Cost: FREE to all Washington State and Idaho HORIZONS Community Teams

Please RSVP by March 6th!!

Information: Patrick Malone, 509.279.5107 or pmalone.horizons@live.com

2009-02-26T09:29:00.000-08:00

FREE TAX PREPARATION AVAILABLE AT THESE LOCATIONS:
North Spokane Public Library - 44 E. Hawthorne Rd., Spokane - Mondays from 3pm til 7pm - first come first served
U.S. Court House - 920 W. Riverside, Spokane - Monday thru Thursday from 10am til 2pm - first come first served
Deer Park Library - 208 S. Forest Ave, Deer Park - Fridays from 1pm til 3pm - first come first served
Corbin Senior Activities Center - 827 W. Cleveland, Spokane - call for info @ 327-1584

2009-02-04T15:00:00.001-08:00

Leadership Plenty Training begins on Tuesday, February 17th, 6:30pm, at the Suncrest Pizza Factory Banquet room. A light dinner will be provided! If you haven't already signed up at the Leadership Plenty Informational meeting, please email Diane @ ogle.dm@gmail.com to register.

Leadership Plenty Informational Meeting

2009-01-22T12:16:00.000-08:00

A free leadership training course is being offered to the community. Leadership Plenty is available to anyone interested in developing leadership skills, valuable in many areas of life. The leadership training course is being offered by the Horizons Community Project, administered by the W.S.U. Extension Program.
Some topics covered by Leadership Plenty include: Finding Leaders Within, Managing Groups For Results, Making Meetings Work Better, Managing Conflict, Moving From Talk to Action, and Communicating For Change. A more detailed explanation of the topics can be found at http://www.pew-partnership.org/lp/curriculum.html.
You are invited to attend the informational meeting Monday, February 2, 7:00 pm at the Tum Tum Community Center located @ 6424 Hwy. 291, just 4 miles north of Suncrest. For more information, please email Diane Ogle @ ogle.dm@gmail.com.
The training course will begin in mid-February.

Leadership Training

2008-12-12T10:55:00.000-08:00

Five of us joined people from across the states, to learn about leadership and blogging. Our days were filled with learning and networking. We had great guest speakers one of them was Kathy McMorris Rogers. Even Patrick got in on the action of learning and networking. Come join us soon to see what will happen in the next set, Leadership Plenty!

Winter 2008

2008-12-03T14:24:00.002-08:00

2008-12-03T14:24:00.001-08:00

2008-12-03T13:44:00.000-08:00

From the younger to the older,
time and information is greatly welcomed.

Community Members

2008-11-19T18:10:00.000-08:00

There are a lot of really great people stepping up and taking action .

2008-11-18T09:16:00.000-08:00

"HELPING OUR COMMUNITY THRIVE"

The Tum Tum Community has been selected by the Northwest Area Foundation to participate in a program designed to reduce long-term poverty in the region. The area that will be impacted includes the 5 Tum Tum voting precincts which lie between the Spokane County line and Corkscrew Canyon Road along Highway 291. The program is delivered through Washington State University’s Horizons Project. More than 200 communities in 8 states have already participated in the program. Representatives from the Horizons Project have been working with individuals in the community to facilitate Community Conversation Circles to bring about dialogue to identify community needs and resources. The Horizons web page states, “HORIZONS IS ABOUT MOVEMENT AND CHANGE: From waiting to leading…from talk to action…from poverty to prosperity…from a few to many…from despair to hope…from indifference to pride.” One objective of the program is to secure a grant to implement the programs adopted by the community as possible solutions to the identified needs. Participation by members of the community is welcome, and in fact, needed. It will take approximately 18 months for the community to complete all of the required tasks.

A dinner and meeting for all those interested will be presented Monday, November 24, 5:30 p.m., at the Tum Tum Community Center, dinner will begin at 5:45 p.m.. It will include time for people to participate in sharing their views on the needs in the area and what it would take to help make our community thrive. To attend, R.S.V.P. to Diane at 466-1497 or ogle.dm@gmail.com . For more information, visit the following web sites online: www.tumtum-wa.blogspot.com , www.nwaf.org, www.everyday-democracy.org, www.horizons.wsu.edu.

Failure to Thrive

2008-11-12T12:32:00.000-08:00

"There are things that you need to know to thrive in this life, but it is hard to get it across to you since you've picked up this bad habit of not listening. Yet it is evident in your life that you are struggling to survive and not thriving. By this time in your life you ought to be able to show your family and others how to thrive, yet you need someone to sit down with you and go over the basics again, starting from square one. You don’t have the tools, resources and or desire to care for yourself and your family. You should have been much further by this time, experienced in life, mature, thriving where you are. You should be able, through practice, to tell right from wrong, good from bad, striving to be a productive citizen of your community. Are you willing to let someone come alongside of you and help show you how you can thrive and not just survive?"

Community Coaches Comments on Study Circles

2008-11-04T11:19:00.000-08:00

Having the occasion to attend several Study Circles in Tum Tum, I'm very impressed at how many people are concerned about the vitality of the community. Study Circle participants are identifying a wide range of creative ways to reduce poverty. The process is working! Patrick Malone

First Meeting

2008-11-03T19:38:00.000-08:00

First Leadership group Meeting.

Figuring out what is what?

2008-11-03T19:37:00.000-08:00

WSU Horizons Website

Community Labels

2004-09-25T15:53:00.001-07:00

Please do not delete this post. NWAF and WSU Horizons requires labels to be added to each post.

Leadership Labels

2004-09-25T15:53:00.000-07:00

Please do not delete this post. NWAF and WSU Horizons requires labels to be added to each post.

Poverty Labels

2004-09-25T15:52:00.000-07:00

Please do not delete this post. NWAF and WSU Horizons requires labels to be added to each post.