Community Development
read the Villisca Economic Development Initiative report

The start of a new year presents an opportunity to take a fresh look at the past 365 days and the coming 365. When looking back at the past 365 for the community of Villisca, what was accomplished and what was started is impressive and it is exciting to see what the next 365 days will hold. What was accomplished was done because people got together and chose to make a difference and indeed did just that.

Leaving a Legacy
and much more

The scholarships come from people who want to make a difference and from families who want to remember their loved ones in a memorable way. Every spring Villisca seniors submit applications for local scholarships - 27 local scholarships. Of these, sixteen are scholarships set up by individuals or in memory of individuals as recognized below:

• Robert A. Rusk Memorial
  
• James Alan Rusk Memorial
  
• Marvin Smith Family Scholarship
  
• Craig Smith Memorial
  
• Spencer Family FFA Scholarship
  
• Kathryn "Sis" Wright Memorial
  
• Oscar Schroeder Memorial
  
• Don and Donna Patton Memorial
  
• Rachel Lyle Scholarship
  
• Wilma Nelson Memorial
  
• Frank Jacobs Memorial
  
• Herman Christie Memorial
  
• Tom and Janice Focht Scholarship
  
• Fred and Lois Bryson Memorial
  
• Gordon Jones Memorial
  
• Don and Sherryl Williams Memorial
  

Who were these people and why the VHS scholarship? Each have a story. One of the stories is that of Kathryn "Sis" Wright. She would not have been recognized as a wealthy woman. Financially, her lifestyle was a simple one which allowed her and her husband to accumulate some assets. She also was the beneficiary of money left to her by her brother's wife at the time of her death. Sis was born and raised in Villisca. She was enthusiastically involved in many areas of Villisca's life across generational lines creating a legacy affirming people and encouraging hope for the future. At her death, she left money to her church, to the volunteer ambulance group, to the Villisca public library, to Villisca Good Samaritan and she left money to establish a scholarship fund to benefit VHS students. Not only has this fund given annual scholarships VHS students going on to college, it has awarded non-traditional grants-in-aid for Villisca secondary students. An example was the year the Imagination Destination team qualified to go to the global competition, some money from the Wright Memorial Scholarship help defray some of the expenses of that trip. Scroll down for more information about Sis.

It took preplanning on the part of Sis Wright to see that her money accomplished the things she wanted it to accomplish. She thought it through and put things in place through legal documents so there was no doubt what would be done with her funds. Today there are a number of ways to manage your financial resources. The most obvious to many is that of writing a will and that should be done with the help of an attorney and perhaps with the counsel of a CPA. There are financial planners who can help sort through the options of charitable giving and to optimize that giving by taking advantage of the tax code.

Scholarships are just one way to give back to the Villisca community. Some choose to give their money without any strings - Sis did that in her gifts to her church, to the library, Good Sam and the ambulance group. Others create trusts and endowments so that they make an impact for years to come. Others set up foundations which give an orderly and prudent way to make contributions in the present through to the future. Still others just give bequests with stipulations so the money is used consistent with a person's history of charitable giving.

Whatever way an individual or family choose to impact life in Villisca with their generosity, they are encouraged to plan. And for all those who have set up scholarships and who give back to this community, thank you.

Kathryn "Sis" Wright - a short biography of a person who continues to give back to her community.

Kathryn "Sis" Wright let her enjoyment of people cross generational lines during her 84 years. Her enthusiastic involvement in many areas of Villisca's life created a legacy affirming people and encouraging hope for the future.

Kathryn Wendling was born southeast of Villisca and grew up on a farm along with two brothers. She graduated from Villisca High School in 1926, having been active in music and basketball and was president of her class.

Sis became a member of the First Presbyterian Church in 1924 where she faithfully served throughout her life with a commitment to local activities and extended missions. The Presbyterian's six-state Synod recognized her as an "Outstanding Senior Church Member."

For many years Sis represented her church on the Villisca Churches Nursing Home Board. Her hours of volunteer work at the Good Samaritan Center were endless. In recognition of her enjoyable commitment to the residents, she was honored as their Volunteer of the Year in 1990.

Celebrating her faith in the people of Villisca along with the hours of service witnessing belief in the way of life in rural and small town Iowa, she was selected by the VFW Ladies Auxiliary 8998 as the "1992 Villisca Citizen of the Year."

The living legacy Sis leaves with Villisca and those who have benefitted from her bequests and scholarships is the example she leaves of a person who touched the lives of three generations who called her "friend", of a person who lived her belief in the value of human life lived to its fullest. Her lifestyle was simple, her interesting others sincere, her faith private but visible.

Making a difference in the Villisca Community School District

Students, parents and school supporters can make a difference in the finances of the Villisca School District: 1) save boxtops4education labels - we can earn up to $20,000 a year; 2) start your online shopping at either igive.com or goodsearch.com and the store you shop at will give a percentage of your order to your designated charity - there are over 700 stores you can shop at including some of your favorites. The "stores" include office supply stores as well as airlines and motels. 3) start your Internet searches at either goodsearch.com or isearchigive.com. They will pay your charity between one and two cents for each search. This is free money. It can make a difference for the Villisca Community Schools.

click here for a list of the 700+ stores you can shop at at igive.com

click here for a list of the wide array of products with
boxtops4education labels
more information available at www.boxtops4education.com

Imagine a multi-use building that would once again take its place as the center of life in Villisca.

Imagine a great room with pull out or drop down walls and a drop down ceiling that transforms the gym to a venue with rich architectural elements for social events, mini-conferences, entertainment events, banquets, to a reception center equal to anything you will find in Des Moines or Omaha.

Imagine a building with the most current technology so those using the building will have access to the resources they need and expect.

Imagine a business hub where small businesses and home-based businesses have large conference rooms and smaller meeting rooms available for business use. Imagine a Hub that would provide a number of business services such as occasional secretarial services and a place to receive business deliveries.

Imagine a place where VHS students would have additional practice areas for sports, mini-assemblies and extra-curricular activities.

Imagine a gathering place for the twenty-somethings in the lower area of the Armory with a place for live entertainment that would gain such a great reputation that it is the weekend destination for young adults from around southwest Iowa.

Imagine a dual-purpose kitchen facility that would not only provide the food service for the twenty-something gathering place and the mini-conferences, the weddings, the parties held on the main level but would be a small production facility for agricultural value-added businesses.

Imagine a building with an eye to the future while preserving and honoring history.

IMAGINE …

Funds are currently being raised for a study of the costs and potential of preserving and renovating the Villisca Armory and creating a self-sustainable facility. This study is being done as a result of community discussions and a community meeting in the fall of 2007.

The study will result in additional community discussions to consider the results of the study and the future of the Armory.

Please contribute to the cost of the study, sending donations to the Villisca Historical Society, 113 West 5th Street, Villisca, IA 5086

This project is to engage the services of an architectural/planning firm to study the opportunity for restoration of the historical Villisca Armory and the associated costs in order to bring it to a viable building for a small business hub, a location for permanent displays of Villisca's military history and other activities bringing new jobs to the community.

The Villisca Armory was built in 1912-13, primarily built with funds raised by local residents, a distinction from other Armories in Iowa. It held the distinction as an Armory located on the community square. Up until the year 2000 it was the oldest Armory building in continuous use since it was completed in 1913. In addition to being used for National Guard functions, including the annual Military Ball, the Armory has served as the primary community recreational and social center for the town of Villisca, hosting VHS basketball games, proms and other dances, local weddings, Saturday night dances, and the annual Firemen's Ball. The architectural/planning firm will evaluate and define the costs of restoration of the Armory and then renovation to allow the building to be self-sustaining while it houses artifacts and documents of Villisca's military history.
A year long community discussion was held in 2007 to consider the future of the Armory. The outcome was an expressed desire to see the Armory restored and regain its value as the center of community life. The consensus was that to make further determinations, a study needed to be done by professionals to determine feasibility and costs.

Historic, Cultural, Tourism Value and Quality of Project

Villisca has a unique history and within that history the Armory has played a significant role. The construction and location has historical significance which would be lost if it were razed. The military contributions of Villisca and the history of the social life in the community is grounded in the Armory. This history can be preserved within the walls of the Armory through the permanent housing of the military artifacts and documents. The Armory will have space where art exhibitions and events can be held. The Armory can resume its role as a center of social and sports life in Villisca. As the Armory takes its place in preserving Villisca's history alongside that found at locations throughout Villisca, it will invite visitors to the community for broad cultural experiences. The history of a community is based in the history of its residents. "We can't innovate, we can't grow, we can't be competitive, we can't increase our living standards and provide a prosperous and sustainable future for our children and grandchildren unless we preserve, protect and use our history." -- Richard Florida speaking to the National Trust on Historic Preservation

Innovation of the Proposed Project

The Armory can not be a stand alone building for historical preservation. After it is restored as a historical building, it will be renovated to serve in several capacities so it can serve as it once served as a center of social life and to house a business hub so it can be self-sustaining. It, out of necessity, will be a multipurpose building so it can retain its dignity and place in Villisca history and in community and economic life.

The instructions for this game of Concentration is below the box.

Here is our Villisca version of the classic memory game, Concentration. Click on the box above. The cards begin face down. Click on one to turn it over. Try to find a second card that matches the first. If the second does not match, both cards return to a face down position. If they do match, the cards are removed to reveal part of the background image.

If your computer is not java enabled, you will not be able to play this game.

The Villisca VFW American Legion Post #8998 and the VFW Ladies Auxiliary are continually initiating projects in an effort to keep the commmunity and children involved with patriotism. Recently, members of Villisca’s High School art class embarked on a project to help Post #8998 stand out from others in the District.

Under the guidance of Villisca Art instructor, Arlan Meske, Villisca students are painting a mural on the wall of the post hall. The backdrop for the mural will be the word patriotism with seven of the letters depiting seven major conflicts of the United States - the Colonial War, Civil War, WWI, WWII, the Korean, Vietnam and Gulf Wars. In the center will be a portrait of the raising of the flag at Iwo Jima. The remainig block will represent the ultimate sacrifice, a gloved hand presenting a folded flag to bare hands. The mural, an original design by the students, will be a project througout the school year.

photo by Peggy Vermillion

We do a lot in Villisca to work toward the safety of our young people. The following article is posted here to raise awareness of what may be - what likely is - lurking in the background. Even though many activities are provided to keep our youth busy and, supposedly, out of troubling activities - just because one is busy does not mean that they don't have a problem. ~~ Roxanna Sieber, Webmaster

July 26, 2006

Alcohol Remains Biggest Rural Substance Problem
~~~ By Thomas D. Rowley

While methamphetamine plagues rural communities across the country, alcohol remains a far more prevalent problem. A recent report by Karen VanGundy at the University of New Hampshire’s Carsey Institute, shows that alcohol abuse in rural America exceeds illicit drug abuse and that excessive drinking is a serious problem among rural youth, more so than among urban youth. (carseyinstitute.unh.edu)

According to VanGundy, “Alcohol abuse remains the most serious substance abuse issue in rural America, particularly among youths and young adults.”

VanGundy, an assistant professor of sociology, doesn’t downplay the meth problem. She simply reminds us that it isn’t the only deadly game in town. What’s needed, she says, is a comprehensive approach to reduce and treat substance abuse—whether alcohol, methamphetamine or anything else.

The report, based on several national studies, finds that:

• Until the early 1990s, urban and rural youth typically reported drinking at the same rates. Since then, rural drinking has increased to the point that rural kids ages 12-17 are now significantly more likely than urban kids to report consuming alcohol—37 percent versus 34 percent.
• At ages 12 to 13, rural youth are more than twice as likely as urban youth to abuse alcohol.
• At 16 to 17 years old, 13 percent of rural kids abuse alcohol; 10 percent of urban kids do.
• By 20 to 21, the rates have more or less equalized.

Why the higher rates of rural use and abuse? The causes are less than certain—especially for younger kids. Certainly, having parents on the scene reduces the problem. And for those old enough to work, employment helps. (Stimulant abuse among the rural unemployed is seven times that of the urban unemployed.) Unlike its impact on illicit drug use, however, educational attainment makes little difference. Whereas rural drug abuse decreases as education increases, alcohol abuse rates are similar across high and low educational levels. Likewise, rural youth from low-income families were no more likely than those from high-income families to abuse alcohol.

What then? VanGundy cites three possibilities. One, alcohol use and abuse are part of the rural (and urban) societal norm. The adults do it; why shouldn’t we? Two, the kids are bored with “nothing else to do.” Three, rural areas lack many of the preventive and treatment services found in urban areas. The report shows that states with the highest rates of alcohol abuse among youths have the greatest unmet need for alcohol treatment and these states tend also to be the most rural.

My own experience as a rural teenager in the 1970s who sadly and regularly abused alcohol supports all three. Drinking—at dance halls, beer joints, town celebrations and parties—wasn’t merely part of the culture; it permeated the culture. And teenage drinking—illegal though it was—was at best lightly frowned upon and at worst given a hearty slap on the back. As for boredom, whether it was true or not we thought we had nothing better to do on Friday and Saturday nights than to buy a bunch of beer (with fake IDs), sit down by the river and hope we made it home in one piece. Prevention? While it makes me sound like a politician to say this, I do not recall any.

Tragically, those factors led one spring night of our senior year to the deaths of three of my close friends and the near deaths of two others—hit by a drunk driver, himself a teenager. I’d like to say that the murderous event scared us all straight, that the culture changed and that preventive services soon appeared. But none of that happened.

And a call this morning to the local sheriff’s department makes me think things haven’t changed much in 27 years, at least not enough. “Alcohol,” an officer told me, “is just part of an unacceptable norm and is always going to be a big problem.” When I asked her what could be done if the resources were available, she singled out the need for public awareness—in grade school, middle school, high school and college. “Go out and tell the kids everything has a consequence,” she said.

So in honor of Angie, K.P., Lori, Janice and Belinda, that’s what I’m doing.

Copyright 2006, Thomas D. Rowley, RUPRI Fellow

Red Bird Mission School in Kentucky had the Methodist Church - Villisca hopefully have their alumni. Click here to read how the Red Bird Mission School raised $21,361 from Boxtops4Education.

click here to look at some of the current opportunities for contributing to Villisca growth

Checklist for local and state government preparedness for pandemic flu or bioterrorism: www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/ statelocalchecklist.html

Checklist for family emergency preparedness: www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/tab3.html or go to the Home and Garden Page

Checklist for business preparedness for pandemic flu or bioterriorism:
www.pandemicflu.gov/plan/ businesschecklist.html

City Services/Utilities

Electric Services
Villisca Municipal Power Plant - 826-3192

Water/Sewer Services
Villisca Municipal Water Dept. - 826-2282

Gas Services - Alliant Energy - 1-800-255-4268
www.midwestsites.com.

Police - 712-826-2282 or 1-800-432-1001
Emergency - 911

Villisca Volunteer Ambulance Service 911

Villisca Volunteer Fire Department 911

Telephone Services (Telephone, Internet) -
Villisca Farmer's Telephone 826-2812

Recycling 826-2282

Public Library
826-2452

Computer/Internet Access
Fax Machine
Copy Machine

Librarian - Pat Means

www.villisca.swilsa.lib.ia.us

Hours: Monday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tuesday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Wednesday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Thursday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Friday 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Saturday - 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Sunday - Closed

Community Website
www.villisca.com - 826-7812

Education

Enarson Elementary School 826-5982

Villisca Middle/High School 826-2552
www.villisca.k12.ia.us

Villisca Head Start 826-5982

Villisca Preschool

Public Library - 826-2452

Other Services

Cable Services
Mediacom - 1-712- 623-4816

Satellite Services
Johnston Communications - 826-4022

Transportation
Southwest Iowa Transportation Authority (SWITA)
1-712-243-4196

Newspaper
Villisca Review Stanton Viking
Peggy Vermillion, owner - 826-2142

Housing/Real Estate

Century 21, Bill Jacobs, Agent
2453 T. Avenue
Villisca, IA 50864
826-8132

Crawford & Co. (formerly Kline Real Estate)
406 S. 3rd Avenue
Villisca, IA 50864
826-5192

John Hausen/Jim Hughes Real Estate
410 So. Locust, Glenwood, IA 51534
712-826-7242 402-669-0637cell
hausens@netins.net jimhughesrealestate.com

Sun Valley Apartments
604 E. 6th Street
Villisca IA 50864
826-4149

Villisca Housing Authority
contact Delores Peterson 826-7602

Villisca Child Care Providers
Joni Currin 826-4525
Jennifer Witcher 826-4299
Amber Grantz 826-4150
Tara McCormick 826-3391
Carolyn Fisher 826-3122

Child Care
Montgomery County Resources - 1-800-945-9778

Veteran's Organizations
Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) - 826-8998

Veteran Affairs - 712-623-3180

American Legion - 826-2702

Crisis Fund - Interchurch - contact resident pastors

Veterans Affairs - contact local veterans organizations

Public Utility financial assistance
contact West Central 712-623-2339

Food/Meals
Villisca Senior Citizens Center
contact Ruth Poston or Pat Victor 826-5182

Meals-on-Wheels 826-5182

Food Pantry 826-3132

SHARE Program -
contact Betty Goettsch 826-8819

Youth Programs

East Sunrisers 4-H Club - contacts:
Tom and Michelle Gillespie 785-3542
Jenny Gilleland 826-2875
Jim and Jan Herzberg 826-8419

Northeast Herdsmen 4-H Club - contacts:
Wanda Johnson - 826-8137
Vince & Becky Dolch - 826-8161

Valley Boosters 4-H Club - contacts:
Martha Herzberg - 826-8952
Bonnie Berggren - 785-3354

FFA - contact VHS - 826-2552

Villisca Youth Sports - contact Shannon Figgins - 826-2783

Girl Scouts - contact Tammie Johannes - 826-2971

Boy Scouts - contact Harold Auten - 826-3131
Cub Scouts - Amy Shipley - 785-3448

Kids and Kinship - contact Margaret Heard - 826-4061

Cindy's Dance - Cindy Scott - 826-8222

Villisca Swimming Pool - 826-3455

Villisca Before/After School Program - 826-5982

Narcotics Anonymous -
contact Presbyterian Church - 826-3372

Nodaway Valley Free Clinic - 542-3719

Physical Therapy - Montgomery County Memorial Hospital
Outpatient physical therapy and rehabilitation services available at Good Samaritan Society - Villisca

Red Oak Internal Medicine -
Villisca - 826-2882

Stoner's Honeyman Drug Store - 826-4112

Veterans Benefits - contact Veterans organizations

Villisca Family Health Center - 826-3003

Villisca Good Samaritan - 826-9592

Villisca Medical Clinic - 826-4422

Recreation/Entertainment/Cultural

City Park

Olson Lynn Museum - 826-2756

Playground at Enarson Elementary School

Rialto Theatre - 826-2122

Summer Youth Sports Program -
contact Shannon Figgins - 826-2783

Swimming Pool - 826-3455
(off season-contact City Hall 826-2282)

Villisca Community Building - 826-2282

Villisca Country Club & Golf Course - 826-5322

Villisca Walking Trail

Chamber of Commerce - Contact Gayle Heard - 826-5222

Lions Club - contact Lee Haidsiak - 826-8472

Interchurch Council
contact Paul Barker 826-7472

Villisca Historical Society
contact Mary Hansen 826-4270

VFW/VFW Ladies Auxiliary- 826-8998

American Legion Ker-A-Vor #25 - 826-2702

Parent Teacher Organization (PTO) 826-5982

Seasonal

Annual POW Supper - sponsored by American Legion

Community Thanksgiving Dinner
sponsored by Advent Christian Church - 826-4662

Easter Egg Hunt - sponsored by Chamber of Commerce
Gayle Heard - 826-5222

Interchurch Vacation Bible School - 826-7472

Interchurch We Care
contact MaryJo Herzberg - 826-3969
Judy Barker - 826-7472

Memorial Day Programs
sponsored by Veterans Organizations

Seasonal

Share-A-Toy - Vince and Judy Else - 785-3311

Veterans Day Program
coordinated by VHS Senior Government Class - 826-2552

VFW Auxillary gift shop for children - 826-3036

VFW Christmas Program - contact
Clarence Peterson - 826-7512

Villisca Heritage Days
contact Chamber of Commerce - 826-5222

Villisca Scholarship Programs - 826-2552

Yard & Garden Committee - Summer Flower Baskets

Did You Know?

Nearly half of the trash that Americans throw away each day (about 5 lbs. per person) can be composted. A compost bin can contain many things from your garden and household: leaves, grass clippings, fruit and vegetable peelings, egg shells and even fluff from your dryer! By not putting this material at the curb, you can cut your personal landfill disposal in half! Composting even produces an organic fertilizer that enriches your soil, gives nutrients to your plants or lawn, and helps soil retain water. Best of all, it’s free.

The Villisca Swimming Pool continues to be a favorite gathering place in the summer months. For those who have fond memories of time at the pool and would like to help preserve this for future young Villiscans, tax-deductible contributions may be made to the pool fund by sending them to Villisca City Hall, 315 South 3rd Avenue, Villisca, IA. Approximately $28,000 has been raised to make necessary changes to the pool. $135,000 is needed to put in stainless steel guttering and plumbing. Additional funds would be needed to provide some of the items for the kids, such as a new slide, diving board, lifeguard chairs, concrete work.

Here kids from the 7th grade Ag class help unload the first shipment of equipment for the new play area in the park on the square in Villisca. The money for the equipment is being been raised by V-Town Park Boosters - Villiscans who look forward to continuing to enhance Villisca's quality of living for young families. Funds are still needed to complete the project. The total cost is $31,000 and about $18,500 has been raised. Tax-deductible contributions may be mailed to Villisca City Hall, 318 S. Third Avenue, Villisca, IA 50864

Bring back the Victory Bell and move forward with a new Courtyard
... and have your name engraved in history. This fundraiser, initiated by Dale Spencer, is to raise funds for a new courtyard at the Villisca Junior-Senior High School. The courtyard would be between the doors you enter to get to the gym and the west entrance to the school. Included in the courtyard would be the Victory Bell for which the Class of 1953 picked up the cost of restoration; the cornerstones from the Enarson Building; the 1913 and the 1926 buildings; and the 1949 FFA Flag pole. "Name bricks" would be used for the walkway. The name bricks are being sold to fund the project which it is estimated will cost between $25,000 and $30,000. The bricks will sell for $50. each and will include three lines of no more than 16 letters. Also being sold to acknowledge donations from classes, businesses and individuals will be brick tiles that will be on the walls. One star $100-$250; two stars $251-$500; three stars $501-$1,000; four star $1,001-$2,000; and five stars for over $2,000. For more information contact Dale Spencer, 1680 US Hwy 71, Villisca, IA 50864 - 712-826-3602 - dspencer@netins.net. Purchase of bricks can go to Dale or sent directly to the Villisca Education Foundation, c/o Roberta Dickey, 109 North 3rd Avenue, Villisca, IA 50864. Check should be made payable to Villisca Education Foundation.

Villisca Swimming Pool Fund - This fundraiser is to raise funds for renovation of the Villisca Swimming Pool, a mainstay for summer recreation for Villisca residents. For those who have fond memories of time at the pool and would like to help preserve this for future young Villiscans, tax-deductible contributions may be made to the pool fund by sending them to Villisca City Hall, 315 South 3rd Avenue, Villisca, IA. $135,000 is needed to put in stainless steel guttering and plumbing. Additional funds would be needed to provide some of the items for the kids, such as a new slide, diving board, lifeguard chairs, concrete work.

Villisca City Park Playground Equipment - The money for the equipment is being been raised by V-Town Park Boosters - Villiscans who look forward to continuing to enhance Villisca's quality of living for young families. Funds are still needed to complete the project. The total cost is $31,000. Tax-deductible contributions may be mailed to Villisca City Hall, 318 S. Third Avenue, Villisca, IA 50864.

Christmas Decorations
Villisca has enjoyed beautiful lighted Christmas decorations in the downtown area and at the north entrance to Villisca. These decorations were purchased with donated funds. They have grown tired and in need of replacement. Funds have been raised for replacements for the decorations on the square. A second-round of fundraising is now ongoing to raise funds to replace the remaining decorations. Contributions can be sent to Villisca City Hall, designated for Christmas Decorations.

Hanging Baskets and Harris Harmony Trail
For several summers Villisca's downtown area has been wonderfully decorated with hanging baskets where the Christmas lights are hung at Christmas. These take a great deal of loving care in the planting in the spring and then watering all summer long. The costs of maintenance is raised by the Villisca Garden Club. Harris Harmony Trail is developed and maintained by volunteers and the costs of maintenance are covered by contributions which can be sent to Villisca City Hall designated for Villisca Garden Club. Pictured is one of the sculptures on the Harris Harmony Trail.

4th of July Fireworks Display
The last couple years the Villisca Chamber of Commerce have hired a firm to do the fireworks display. It has been a wonderful addition to the summer celebration. The Chamber has a couple fundraisers to raise money to cover the costs. Contributions can be sent to the Villisca Chamber of Commerce, Gayle Heard, Treasurer, 601 S. 3rd Avenue, Villisca, IA 50864

Villisca Alumni and Friends Association
In 2005-06 some alumni have worked toward the establishment of the Villisca Alumni and Friends Association (VAFA).

At this time, the legal work to incorporate the organization, to set out the by-laws and to apply for tax-exempt status is being done with the help of Bob Mullen, Class of '67. The board is being put together with the leadership of Jim Robinson, Class of '67. Each decade will have two representatives.

Through the VAFA, there will be a number of ways to participate in preserving the past and building the future of Villisca. Once the board is formed, it will begin to develop initiatives to match the mission and vision of the organization which many of you will choose to participate in. As with any organization there will be organizational costs involved. Contributions may be sent to the Villisca Alumni and Friends Association, c/o Jim Robinson, 114 North 3rd Avenue, Villisca, IA 50864

For more information on the Villisca Alumni and Friends Association contact Jim Robinson, 114 North Third Ave., Villisca, 50864 or send inquiries to VAFA, P.O. Box 45, Villisca, IA 50864; or e-mail
alumni@villiscareview.com

Villisca Historical Society
The need to have an organization to accept historical contributions and to have a place to house them has become increasingly apparent. Early in 2005, a group headed by Mary Hansen began putting together the structure for the Villisca Historical Society. They have completed the incorporation process as a non-profit and have applied for a 501c3 tax status. The society must raise funds for a building to house historical documents and memorabilia and then funds for ongoing expenses of maintaining the building and the displays. Contributions can be sent to Mary Hansen at 113 West 5th Street, Villisca, Iowa 50864. She can be contacted at info@villiscahistory.org.

Library
The Villisca Public Library has an Adopt-An-Author Program. It is quite simple. You go to the library and pick your favorite author to sponsor. When that author writes a new book, the library will purchase that book. You pay for the book (write a check to the vendor). The good thing about that is that you can be the first one to read the book. The library's address is 204 S. 3rd Ave., Villisca, IA 50864 - telephone #826-2452 - e-mail address villisca-lib@villisca.k12.ia.us

Volunteer Firefighters and EMTs
Villisca, like most rural communities, depend on volunteer organizations for fire and EMT protection. These organizations are dependent on donations to maintain and upgrade their equipment, including their vehicles. Contributions can be sent to Villisca City Hall - make sure to designate what the money is for.

Churches
Churches exist by contributions - and the Villisca churches are no different. The aging population of Villisca with many parishioners now on fixed-incomes Villisca churches are facing financial challenges. Contributions should be sent to the churches directly and in most cases are tax deductible.

Interchurch Council
The Interchurch Council has been an unusual coalition of the Villisca churches - unusual because in most communities it is difficult to bring together churches for cooperation in single events much less an ongoing relationship where congregations worship together and work together without jealously to meet spiritual and physical needs of residents. Some activities of the Council do not have costs tied to them such as the 4th of July Worship in the Park, the Thanksgiving Service, World Day of Prayer, Easter Sunrise Service. Others do - Villisca Food Pantry and Crisis Fund, We Care, Interchurch Scholarship Fund. The Interchurch Council welcomes contributions to these funds. They can be sent to Helen Lowe, Interchurch Treasurer, 407 East First Street, Villisca, IA 50864

Sunday Dinner Fundraisers
If you live in SW Iowa, we encourage you to dine in Villisca Sunday's at noon. Many Sunday's one or another group serve dinner as a fundraiser. The food is always good and it is a great chance to visit with old friends. The Sunday fundraising dinners are announced on the Front Page and the SW Iowa Events page of villiscareview.com

Some fundraisers don't call for cash contributions.
Non-cash Fundraisers
Enarson Elementary continues to collect General Mills "boxtops" to raise funds through Boxtops 4 Education. General Mills is committed to contributing up to $20,000 to a school district. At 10 cents a "boxtop" - it would take a lot of them to raise $20,000 - 200,000 to be exact but with 6 decades plus of alumni - it would be just about 3077 boxtops per class - about 15 from each alumnus.

If you shop online, if you start your shopping at Boxtops4Education.com or iGive.com, the participating retailers will donate a percentage of your purchase to the charity of your choice. There are over 200 stores in the Boxtops Marketplace and over 600 at iGive.com including stores many people shop at everyday. The only thing you have to do to get the donations to your charity is to start your shopping trip at the Boxtops or iGive Websites.

That a well-educated rural kid can make more money in the big city than she can at home—in the community that paid for a good chunk of her schooling—is more or less given. Indeed, the so-called “brain drain” that results when the newly graduated leave the countryside in search of higher salaries and broader experiences is a widely known and much-lamented phenomenon.

That a well-educated workforce can help a rural community prosper is also more or less a given. Just how to create a well-educated workforce that stays home is, of course, a big problem--one of many.

As editors Lionel Beaulieu and Robert Gibbs, write in the introduction to a new report, “The Role of Education: Promoting the Economic and Social Vitality of Rural America,”

Serious challenges await rural areas that seek to improve their economy by improving their human capital. “…if rural schools are successful in producing well-educated students, they run the risk of accelerating the exodus of talented youth to the larger cities that offer higher salaries and other important amenities.”

Sure, Beaulieu and Gibbs say, rural areas can try to keep their best and brightest by creating better paying, higher quality jobs. “But, in far too many rural places, the necessary infrastructure and fiscal resources needed to create or attract such jobs are simply limited.”

On top of that, similar limitations keep rural areas from fully capitalizing on a well-educated workforce—even if it can be kept at home.

In their chapter, Penn State’s Stephan Goetz and Anil Rupasingha examine the economic returns to education in rural America. They find that a one-percentage point increase in the share of high school graduates raises per capita income by $128 in a typical rural county. Sadly, but not surprisingly, that same one-point increase in an urban county raises per capita income by a whopping $413.

David Barkley, Mark Henry and Haizhen Li, from Clemson, find similar results: a five-percentage point increase in the share of adults attending college, on average, yields a 3.5 percent increase in the growth rate of rural per capita income and a 9.0 percent increase in that of urban. It also yields a 5.5 percent increase in the growth rate of rural employment, but a 6.8 percent increase in urban.

Why so much higher in urban?

Synergy, according to Goetz and Rupasingha. Not only does education on its own tend to raise per capita income, it also interacts with other factors that raise income—things like interstate access and higher population density that are lacking in rural America. Put them together and the whole is greater than the sum of its parts—more so in urban areas.

All of which, say Goetz and Rupasingha, gives “some indication of the staggering odds or disadvantages that rural areas face in terms of providing those with a high school degree a reasonable return on their investment.”

Fortunately, the news in the report isn’t all bad. Thomas Lyson, from Cornell University, writes that the rural school is still one of the most important local assets—reaching the broadest set of folks by teaching kids; employing teachers, administrators, janitors, and bus drivers; and providing social, cultural, and recreational opportunities for all.

Out of that, Lyson argues, comes great economic value. Specifically, his research shows that rural New York villages with schools are more likely than those without to

• grow in population;
• have higher housing values;
• have better physical infrastructure; and
• have proportionally more college graduates and workers in professional occupations.

And lest we get too focused on the economic benefits, Lyson also reminds us that rural schools offer something of equal if not greater value. The rural school “is a place where generations come together and where community identity is forged.”

Which brings to mind a quote I once heard attributed to scientist, author, and founder of The Land Institute, Wes Jackson, “The American educational system has but one major: upward mobility; it needs a second: homecoming.”

The Role of Education: Promoting the Economic and Social Vitality of Rural America is available at http://srdc.msstate.edu/publications/ruraleducation.pdf.
Copyright 2004, Thomas D. Rowley, RUPRI Fellow
This and previous columns can be found at www.rupri.org/editorial

7-03-05 -- This weekend while watching all the activity in Villisca with people catching up on the lives of school friends while at the same time for many it was as if no time had passed, I thought of one of Carolyn Gage's Corners found in the Villisca Review. Even though many have moved away, they still seem to belong to "Our Larger Circle."

from: "The Corner - Thursday, August 12, 1999"

"OUR LARGER CIRCLE"

"Our circle is larger. We who live in small communities would win any contest that compared the number of our friends and acquaintances with metro-dwelling counterparts.

"Whereas we know those who live on our street or the street to the east, the city dwellers may know the neighbors who live on either side, but not those four doors down. We visit on a first-name basis with the grocery store clerk and the bank teller and the postman who delivers our mail. Not so in the city.

"If there is a family tragedy or medical crisis in a small town, help is there - immediately. Our friends, neighbors and families ... responding to our needs. It can be the arrival of food, help with baby-sitting and/or unsolicited offers of assuming farm chores.

"This process of being our 'brother's keeper' is intangible. There is no way to photograph it for economic development brochures or videos. And yet, it is rural America's finest asset. We may not have the malls or mega-theater; instead, thank God, we have our circle.

"carolyn cole gage"

Whatever else it may include, the American Dream surely entails “a decent home and suitable living environment.” Indeed, the Housing Act of 1949 called for just that “for every American family.” And while progress has certainly been made in the fifty-plus intervening years, that part of the American Dream is for many just that, a dream—even in rural America, where common wisdom says housing is cheap. As Winston Churchill purportedly responded to a woman’s accusation that he’d had enough whiskey to fill a large room, “So much done, so much more to do.”

First, the “so much done.”

According to USDA, the rate of rural homeownership continues to hit record highs, reaching 77 percent in July of this year and exceeding urban rates for a variety of household types. Aided by low interest rates, housing affordability climbed nationwide more than 10 percent from 2000 to 2003, despite the price of existing houses jumping more than 22 percent.

Now, the “so much more to do.”

In an interview with the Housing Assistance Council, Cushing Dolbeare, founder of the National Low Income Housing Coalition and a woman involved in housing issues for half a century, summed up the magnitude of the problem and its lack of visibility this way: people know that 45 million Americans have no health insurance; they don’t know that 96 million have housing problems—housing that’s unaffordable, inadequate, or dilapidated, and sometimes all three.

And some of the worst problems are in rural areas.

• 15 percent of rural counties are “housing stressed,” where 30 percent or more of homes cost too much relative to household income, are too crowded, or lack certain basic facilities, such as a complete kitchen or bathroom.
• 28-30 percent of rural households have one or more housing problems. For rural renters, the rate is even higher. A third of all rural renter households are cost-burdened, paying more than 30 percent of income for housing. Some 12 percent live in moderately or severely inadequate housing.
• More than 670,000 households, (nearly two million people), lack access to clean potable water and indoor plumbing. Most of them live in rural America.
• Rural minorities are among the poorest and worst housed groups in the nation, with disproportionately high levels of inadequate housing. (Statistics are from USDA. HUD, Housing Assistance Council, and National Rural Housing Coalition).

(continued in next column)

Here in rural Iowa we depend on volunteers to do what is often paid for in well-populated areas. Following is an article with information from a study done about volunteerism. While it may be that the statistics would be different if it had been done in just rural areas, it may give some information about trends that rural communities need to be aware of. Taken with information about the loss of social capital in rural areas, it may be putting SW Iowa on notice to be aware!

Americans say time, not money, most important gift to charity Thrivent Financial study finds prayer dramatically influences volunteer behavior

MINNEAPOLIS (Jan. 13, 2004) - Twice as many Americans believe it is more important to volunteer one's time than give money to charity, according to a nationwide Thrivent Financial for Lutherans survey. The survey also found Americans' relationship to faith groups and faith practices dramatically influences Americans' giving of time and money to nonprofit organizations. Support of nonprofit organizations is primarily driven by Americans' belief in the organization's mission, the survey revealed.

Half (50 percent) of Americans believe that giving one's time is more important than giving money. Twenty-two percent say money is the most important gift to charitable causes while 23 percent say time and money are equally important.

Young adults, aged 18-34, and seniors, aged 65 and older, hold decidedly different views about the importance of volunteerism. While 58 percent of young adults say giving time to a charitable cause is most important, just 28 percent of seniors agree. Conversely, 29 percent of seniors say "money" is the most important gift one can give to a charitable organization, while 23 percent of young adults and 18 percent of those aged 35-49 agree.
Despite their different perspectives, young Americans and seniors volunteered in 2003 at about the same level. Forty-four percent of young adults reported they had volunteered with a nonprofit, school or church over the past 12 months, while 39 percent of seniors did so. This compares with 54 percent of those aged 35-49 and 52 percent of those aged 50-64.

"This research suggests that there's an emotional, visceral connection to volunteering that just cannot be duplicated by writing a check," said Brad Hewitt, Thrivent Financial senior vice president of charitable programs and volunteerism. "Smart nonprofits can tap the goodwill of the American public by offering opportunities for their supporters to gain new experiences and develop relationships while doing good for others."

Volunteerism tends to increase with income and education levels, as well. Two-thirds (67 percent) of college graduates reported volunteering in the past 12 months compared with 35 percent who have a high school diploma or less. Similarly, 62 percent of those earning $75,000 or more reported volunteering compared with 30 percent of those earning less than $20,000, 40 percent of those earning $20,000 to $34,999, 52 percent of those earning $35,000 to $49,999, and 54 percent of those earning $50,000 to $74,999.

A Matter of Faith

Those committed to prayer and regular attendance at religious services are most likely to report having volunteered with a nonprofit organization, church or school during the past 12 months. Below is the percentage of Americans who have volunteered in the past 12 months among those who:
* Pray daily (58 percent)
* Pray frequently (39 percent)
* Rarely or never pray (28 percent)
* Attend religious services weekly (66 percent)
* Attend religious services once or twice a month (47 percent)
* Attend religious services a few times a year (36 percent)
* Never attend religious services (25 percent)

Those who pray and attend religious services also reported that they are more likely to increase the amount of money they will donate in 2004 to nonprofit organizations. While 22 percent of all respondents said they planned on giving more to nonprofit organizations in 2004, 30 percent of those who attended religious services every week said they would do so versus 12 percent of those who never attend services. Similarly, 25 percent of those who pray every day reported that they will donate more money in 2004 versus 17 percent of those whom rarely or never pray.

(continued from left column)

Faith Groups Receive Financial Support

Faith groups - churches and synagogues - are most likely to receive financial support from Americans. Fifty-seven percent of all Americans say they financially support faith groups. Pre-retirees, aged 50-64, are most likely to give to faith groups while young Americans, aged 18-34, are least likely to do so (66 percent versus 48 percent). Women are slightly more likely than men to give money to faith groups (62 percent versus 53 percent), while those in the South (62 percent) are slightly more likely than those in the Northeast (50 percent), West (54 percent) or Midwest (59 percent) to fund faith groups.

Other types of charitable organizations that Americans report funding include:
* Schools, colleges and universities (33 percent)
* Medical research (30 percent)
* Social service organizations (27 percent)
* United Way (27 percent)
* Environmental organizations (17 percent)
* Political organizations (12 percent)
* Arts organizations (11 percent).

Every type of tax-exempt organization saw a decline in the percentage of Americans providing them financial support in 2003 compared to five years earlier (1998), with the exception of political organizations, which held steady at 12 percent. Support for the United Way declined 13 percentage points from 1998 to 2003 (40 percent versus 27 percent) while support for arts organizations declined just 3 percentage points.
Fourteen percent of Americans said they do not give money to charitable organizations.

Mission Matters Most

Belief in an organization's mission is the driving force behind Americans' charitable giving. Americans reported the following reasons for giving money to nonprofit organizations[1]:
* Belief in the organization's mission (76 percent)
* Religious beliefs (39 percent)
* Always have/tradition (21percent)
* Tax deduction (7 percent)
* Work/peer pressure (5 percent)

Those earning $75,000 or more were most likely to give for the tax deduction (15 percent) and due to the organization's mission (88 percent). Rural residents were most apt to give to charity because of their religious beliefs (47 percent).
"Americans are increasingly interested in values-driven organizations," said Hewitt. "Regardless of whether they choose to support these charitable causes through financial gifts or through the gift of time, Americans can do more through focused planning that frees dollars and hours for the organizations they care about."

Telephone interviews were conducted for Thrivent Financial by Harris Interactive between November 20 and December 4, 2003 among a nationwide sample of 1,000 U.S. adults aged 18 and older. Figures for age and education were weighted where necessary to align them with their actual proportions in the population.

Thrivent Financial is a not-for-profit Fortune 500 financial services organization helping nearly 3 million members achieve their financial goals. Thrivent Financial and its affiliates offer a wide range of financial solutions and have $60.6 billion (Sept. 30, 2003) in assets under management. Thrivent Financial and its members provide approximately $200 million annually for charitable outreach programs. For more information, visit www.thrivent.com.