Hot Springs, SD Horizons

How many readers of this blog have older computers stored in their homes? How many of you would like to have a resource to put these computers to good use? How many would like to see computers used rather than sent to the landfill?

According to the National Safety Council, “…three-quarters of all computers sold in the United States remain stockpiled in businesses and homes.” Also, the United States Department of Commerce says that “Approximately 40% of US families do not have Internet-capable computers.”

According to the US Environmental Protection Agency, “…each used computer monitor and television screen—can release 3-8 poundsof lead, which has been demonstrated to cause brain damage particularly when exposed to children. EPA estimates that discarded CRTs (monitors and televisions) contribute at least 40% of the known lead in U.S. landfills. Cadmium, mercury, chromium and hazardous flame-retardants are other toxic chemicals typically found (in electronics).”

Additionally, according to Jim Lynch in his Islands in the Wastestream, “From an environmental standpoint, it is preferable to reuse computers an extra two or three years than to recycle their components. Over each computer’s life cycle, reselling or upgrading computers saves 5 to 20 times more energy than recycling.

Given this information and the work that Horizons is doing in Hot Springs, could we all work together and develop a computer reuse center where computers could be collected, refurbished and distributed to residents who cannot afford one? Could we reduce the amount of toxic waste in our landfill and help the community at the same time?

Older computers are still viable tools that can be used for many more years. Word processing, spreadsheets and data bases as well as Internet use will work just as well on a 5 to 10 year-old computer as they do on the newest models.

Comment on this blog to let us know if there is some support for this idea.

One way to help our youth deal with poverty is through a Boys and Girls Club.  A club will provide activities  on an ongoing schedule that will be supervised in a welcoming atmosphere.  Our beautiful little community simply does not have a “place” the youth can call their own and know will be there for them.  A major point to this is to keep costs low so that ALL youth can participate.  To make it work requires a lot of support with volunteers, particiapation in fund raising, and interested. responsible adults who will commit themselves and want to be a part of the program.  Please step forward for our kids.

Do you want to help make Hot Springs a place where youth have opportunities for activities that help them enjoy life and fulfill their potential? We have an active Children & Youth Task Force working on exciting projects. Some of the objectives have been completed, but there is much to do, including fundraising for a Boys & Girls Club. There may be a place for you to help; you only have to ask.

Come to the Horizons community dinner Feb 21 at the American Legion (6 p.m., lasagne, good food, good people) and sign up for a team, or — if you can’t make it — leave a comment here with your contact information and someone will get in touch with you.
 

Goal One, Objective 1: improve and expand youth programs
in the community.Implementation Steps…………………………………………………….Completion Date 1. Research: Conduct interviews with schools in other communities
where successful after-school and Friday programs are in place ………. Ongoing

Are you interested in getting involved in community television? Are you interested in learning to blog or administering the Hot Springs Horizons Blogsite? Are you interested in training others to access the internet and blog on our site to disseminate information and ideas?

Come to the Horizons community dinner Feb 21 at the American Legion (6 p.m., lasagne, good food, good people) and sign up for a team, or — if you can’t make it — leave a comment here with your contact information and someone will get in touch with you.
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Goal 5: implement a comprehensive communications
system for our community.Goal 5 - Objective 1: Assist GWTC with programming Hot Springs local cable TV channel, involving youth and adults.

Implementation Steps……………………………………………………………………..Completion Date

1. Research how other towns program their local cable channel………….………….. 04/31/08

2. Provide input to Golden West, as requested …………………………………………….…. Ongoing

3. Determine availability and interest of our high school students in developing the programming…………………………………………………………………………………………..2/15/08 Ongoing

4. Provide ongoing support to Golden West community cable tv. As Requested

Method Of Evaluation………………………………………………………………………Completion Date

Local Cable Channel is on the air…………………………………………………………………….….. 05/01/08

Goal 5 - Objective 2: Hot Springs Horizons blog is widely used.

Implementation Steps Completion Date

1. Recruit and train blog administrators. …………………….……………. 10/24/07

2. Post Horizons blog website in the library computers…………….….. 03/01/08

3. Publicize how to participate in the community blog………….. 11/15/07 Ongoing

Method Of Evaluation Completion Date

Blogsite automatically enumerates participation…………………………………..… Ongoing

Scope and variety of content increases …………………………….……02/01/08 & Ongoing

Are you interested in joining a team to carry out one or more objectives of the Health Care Goal? Are you interested in realizing the vision of a new hospital? Or creating a series of classes that lead to making Hot Springs the “wellness capital of South Dakota” — a place where strong healthy children and adults are engaged in healthy outdoor activities, dropping weight and building muscle and bone; a destination place for tourists who want to heal body and mind — where fitness centers, spas, massage therapists, craniosacral, reiki and energy healers are fully booked. Where restaurants have specialty menus that feature whole foods, organic foods, vegetarian meals. Or would you be more interested in helping to set up a transportation system to help people get to medical appointments?

Come to the Horizons community dinner Feb 21 at the American Legion (6 p.m., lasagne, good food, good people) and sign up for a team, or — if you can’t make it — leave a comment here with your contact information and someone will get in touch with you.
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Goal 6: Address the issue of quality, affordable healthcare
for the Hot Springs community.

Goal 6 - Objective 1: Offer series of wellness education classes.

Implementation Steps Completion Date

1. Create a list of possible subjects……………………………..…………………… 04/01/08
2. Research and recruit competent instructors……….…………………….…… 06/01/08
3. Finalize list of offerings……………………………………………………….….…… 06/01/08
4. Find a location and schedule the classes………………………………….….…. 09/01/08
5. Advertise the availability of the classes……………………………………….….09/15/08
6. Begin the sessions…………………………………………………………………………10/01/08
7. Explore feasibility of providing wellness packages to tourists….……… 01/31/09

Method of Evaluation……………………………………………………………….Completion Date

Log number of attendees at each session………………………………………………… Each session
Elicit evaluations from attendees. ………………………………………………………..………. 11/31/08
Assess cost/benefits of program……………………………………………………….…..…….. 12/15/08
Decision whether to develop tourist wellness-package………….………………….…….. 02/15/09

Goal 6 - Objective 2: Provide support to construct new hospital.

Implementation Steps………………………………………………………Completion Date

1. Contact city council and county commissioners to solicit their support. 02/15/08

2. Work with Hospital Board to determine if local fund drive is needed…. 02/20/08

3. Provide help with the fund drive (if one is done)……………………………… 02/27/08

4. Help disseminate factual information about benefits of hospital by blogging, writing letters, speaking at civic groups…………………………………….…………….. Ongoing

Method of Evaluation……………………………………………………Completion Date

City and County officials have been contacted………………………………..…… 02/28/08
Fund drive support plan is in place …………..………………………………….…… 03/01/08

Goal 6 - Objective 3: Develop transportation system to help people get to their medical appointments.

Implementation Steps……………………………………………………….Completion Date

1. Inventory transportation that is currently available…………….……… 03/01/08

2. Provide questionnaires at local medical facilities to assess
need for help with transportation. …………………………..……………………04/01/08

3. Identify gaps in transportation coverage…………………..………………….. 05/15/08

4. Solicit responsible volunteers to provide rides .where
regular transport is unavailable or not feasible …………………………… 06/01/08

5. Develop a flyer to distribute community-wide offering the service….06/15/08

Method of Evaluation ……………………………………………………..Completion Date

Gather data from volunteers on frequency of use………………………………….. 09/15/08
Interview people who use the service……………………………………………….…… 09/15/08

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The Chamber of Commerce is leading the effort to build affordable housing in the community. One has been completed and six more are in the works for 2008. This will help insure we keep our valuable resource (productive young people starting out) here in our community. This will help economic development.

Since the Hot Spgs community has become involved in the Horizons concept, a more focused view of the scope and nature of poverty in this community has emerged. Many persons who otherwise would be carving out their own future here have paused, and begun participating in one or more of the target areas of need. We all know what is needed to make a quantum leap, economically speaking. We all know we have yet to discover a solution to the jobs dilemma. Yet, we have chosen not to close our eyes to “inching” our way forward. And so the Horizons based community Children & Youth Steering Committee has chosen to make a concerted effort to bring a Boys & Girls Club of America program to the community. If we can expand our kids opportunities to succeed even in small ways, we can reduce, a perceived poverty of opportunity for our kids.

I think most all of us have heard of micro-loans, and I know there’s been some discussion of trying to get them started in Hot Springs. While we haven’t figured out how to make that happen here, I have learned of a cool website where you can make micro-loans to entrepeneurs around the world. The recommended loan amount is $25.00 and you choose the country, person, and business you want to loan to. Check it out at www.kiva.org