Scotland, SD

Several months ago Scotland started a project – Horizons – it is aimed at improving our town.
“Welcome to Scotland” project is now being put into motion.
The packet contains a list of businesses, gift cards from businesses, folders about the town and the museum. There is a bulletin board in the council room that offers folders telling about ‘help’ programs that are available.
We will be delivering packets to recently new citizens of the community and as new families arrive, they will be given their Welcome packet at the finance office.
Much effort went into this project. Peggy Schelske de-signed the folder (isn’t it attractive?) Scotland Hardware gave the bulletin board and then there was the legwork – contact-ing the businesses, which was done graciously by Harriet Schaeffer.
We still have more to go: the houses need identification numbers- the EMT and fire de-partment needs them as well as your friends. Tell your neigh-bors, if they lack the numbers on their house.
Harriet Schaeffer worked hard on the Welcome Wagon project and she appreciated the help and cooperation from all those who assisted with this project.
The Horizon’s project is now in it’s final stages of completion with the visioning aspect taking place. At the first meeting of the strategic planning committee, the vision and mission state-ment and the broad goals of the group were set.
The Scotland vision statement reads as follows:
Families of all ages of the community will be working together to support a produc-tive and appealing business dis-trict. They will have an envi-ronment that supports a suc-cessful school district and is abundant in indoor and outdoor recreational opportunities. Ad-vocates a variety of community resources including excellent healthcare facilities, successful commerce providing job avail-ability, and a safe environment. Scotland will be a place that people will be proud to call home and encourage friends and families to come join them.
The mission statement reads – The Horizons Strategic Planning Committee for Scotland will implement the following com-munity plan – to improve the Scotland community and to en-courage people to come and live here. The plan will be imple-mented using the skills and tal-ents of our residents to carry out the vision of our future.
The broad goals identified at this meeting were as follows:
Welcome Wagon- To develop a welcoming program for new residents to Scotland.
Boys and Girls Club- To de-termine the interest and feasibil-ity of creating a boys and girls club.
Parents, youth and business owners survey will be done.
Exploring programs for this project
Citywide volunteer cleanup- Improve the appearance of homes and yards of our com-munity.
volunteer cleanup
house painting
fix-up team
time bank-volunteer hours
Business development- To enhance the business climate in Scotland by strengthening our current businesses and seeking new ones and marketing to new ones. Developing our own en-trepreneurs.
Good Stuff- To develop a Good Stuff program that gets quality, preowned household items to people who need them.
inventory and exchange
have use of build-ing/fundraising garage sales
Scotland Community Founda-tion- To assist the community members in the creation of a Scotland Community Founda-tion that will benefit all aspects of the community.
The next meeting of the stra-tegic planning committee will be Wednesday, Oct. 10 at 6 p.m. at the community room. The purpose of the meeting will be to develop the objectives for each of the goals – the who, what, when and how.