Organizational Chart

The Horizons Group consists of an Advisory Board and members of action committees working together to make Klickitat the best it can be! We are serving Klickitat, Wahkiacus, Appleton, Pitt and all the areas in between. We invite you to take a look at the chart and volunteer in any area that appeals to you! If you have questions you can email them to klickitathorizons@gmail.com.

The NEW Horizons 2010

Welcome to the New Horizons!

Mission Statement:

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.

Advisory Board:

Chair - Allie Spino
Vice President - Judy Lamping
Secretary - Kate Maple
Treasurer - Sandy Hayden
Adviser - Pam Hylton
Adviser - Mike Schlangen
Adviser - Johny Clarence

To Know Our Past; is to Understand the Future.

Klickitat Canyon Days a day of celebrating it's existance.

Klickitat was established in the 1800's, but has been a home to the Klickitats a Native American Tribe for many years before that.

We can celebrate our history through our newly placed Museum in the new, but old historical Mill Office.

The museum brought Klickitat to a place where memories were brought together and shared.

Come experience our history for yourself, visit the Klickitat Museum.

WORKIN' ON THE HORIZON!

The Klickitat School begins to revitalize the Mill Office Annex Building, the future Community and Youth Center.

Thank you Jay and Mike!

KLICKITAT CELEBRATES.....JUNE 22ND

WE CELEBRATED TOGETHER AND EVERYONES WELCOMED!!! WE ALL ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO OUR FUTURE COMMUNITY YOUTH CENTER AND NOW WE HAVE AN OCCUPANCY PERMIT. LET'S START WORKING!!!!!

So This Is Klickitat!

So this is Klickitat is a book written by Selma M. Neils in 1969 that tells about the early settlers, the development of the timber and mineral-springs resources, Native Americans, and the people of Klickitat. The book describes many organizations and activities that occurred along with the owners of the mill that contributed to the positive development of Klickitat. This is a time when over 70% of the households had one or more members of their family working in the mill or logging industry.

The book continues to show how the town was united by a thriving industry, and kids left the ball field, river, or the alley from playing when they heard the mill whistle blow, knowing that dinner would be put on the table. As I read this book it gives me a kind of Leave it to Beaver feeling, crime was low, alcohol and cigarettes were the well-known drugs, doors were left unlocked, and everyone knew their neighbor. The ladies were involved in the Woman’s Club; everyone came to the dances, and was involved in the school activities. Even if you didn’t have a son or daughter playing on one of the school teams, you had a niece, nephew, or cousin; therefore the high school team was another activity that was well attended.

Our town has changed since then. I’ve lived here for 26 years and I can notice and see change, the largest being the mill closure. Definitely this fact has hurt and hindered Klickitat’s ability to prosper and grow with the times. But is our community really as different now as many of us think? Of course I have to answer yes to my question. We will probably never have an industry operating in Klickitat that employs the majority of our population. There will never be a train running through our town. Yes, physical attributes of Klickitat and work opportunities for community members have changed. But have the core of the people living here left along with the mill and railroad? I don’t believe so.

I was the chairperson for the carnival during Klickitat Canyon Days. I had a lot of commitment from people prior to the event, but I still worried that I didn’t have enough workers for the booths or baked goods for the cakewalk. As I fretted and worried I began making phone calls, and what did I get for my efforts? People that said they would bring baked goods, workers, and most of all the willingness to help however they could.

Sandy I. said that the twins could come and help. They had to have the truck and trailer cleaned before Friday night so that it could be decorated for the float, but she thought they wouldn’t have any problem get that done too. What time do you need them there?

I left a message for Katherine R. Thursday night. Remember, the carnival was Friday night. Katherine didn’t call me back. She just showed up ready to help.

Allie S., Lorraine V., Karen S., and Tammie H. said they could bring baked goods. Remember this is at the last minute because I am a bit panicked.

Yes, there has been a lot of changes in our community, good and bad, but I believe that the people of this town; old and new want the same things, a clean, safe, drug free, and thriving environment to raise families. All the clean ups, karate lessons, music in the park, community newsletter, Canyon Days activities for family and kids, and so many people willing to get involved are evidence of that.

My heart and soul has been in this community for 26 years and God willing many more to come. We all can make a difference if it’s by picking up our garbage, joining a committee, or saying hello to a neighbor. There’s not a task too large or too small that we can’t accomplish.

Laura Bales

We Celebrate the Newsletter!

Klickitat's Community Newsletter the Horizon's has been an action item since the Study Circle's of March back in 2007. Our first Newsletter was hand-delivered for that personal one-on-one connection to our community neighbors in April of 2007.

We have partnered with the Klickitat County E.D.A. to make all copies and we are very greatful for their support. Allie Spino drives 30minutes to Goldendale were the Klickitat County EDA is located to drop off the draft and returns to Klickitat waiting for the okay to pick-up the finished newsletters. Once she returns home she connects with Renee Kessinger, Debbie Pyle, Laura Bales, Judy Lamping, Rhonda Vogt and a few spouses along the way and the folding begins. Each news crew member then carries out bundles of newsletter to deliver to the whole community.

Starting with around 250 copies we have increased to around 570 copies and now are getting past community members responding to the publications as well as writing memory articles of their own and saying thank you!

So in return..."Thank You to all for this opportunity it has been really rewarding connecting with everyone who cares about our rural town in Klickitat, Washington!"

KLICKITAT VISIONS

On November 11, 2007 the community is brought together by the Klickitat Horizons. This has been a very long day, but a very hopeful day. Nearly 40 community members attending and about five attended for the first time. Our actions have a very big impact for the future of Klickitat: A Clean-up Committee, Police Presence Committee, Community Youth Center Committee, and an Expanded Businesses Committee. Thank You to all those who have participated and have a dream for making Klickitat a better place. Also thank you Klickitat County Commissioner David Sauter for coming to support Klickitat.

BINGO For Horizon Surveys

Klickitat gets 60 residents to fill out surveys.

The residents of Klickitat always love BINGO Night.

"B-4" residents play Bingo for free they were asked to bring their completed surveys in. Klickitat was very willing and enjoyed the hour and a half of listening for their numbers and possibly winning a prize. It was a excellent night with all the support and collaboration, and they are ready for the next meeting. Do you think we'll make the cut?

Klickitat Celebrates July 17th, 2007

On July 17th, 2007, our Horizon group joined together to celebrate their successes. We as a whole have been involved with the Horizon Project for nine months.

Back in October of 2006, five local residents went to the Horizon Spotlight. At the Spotlight presented by Washington State University Extension, the instructors developed small classes to educate small rural communities about the diverse effects of poverty.

“The Horizons program is about the changes a community can make to move from poverty to hope, from population and economic decline to prosperity. This initiative is for rural communities of fewer than 5,000 and with poverty rates of at least 10 percent”, explains the WSU website.

Klickitat is one of 23 communitiues in the State of Washington who have been participating in the Project and whom have set small goals that we have accomplished.
We have completed the Study Circles and the LeadershipPlenty Curriculum. And we owe it to everyone who has participated and all of Klickitat who have a great love for our community. It all takes love, pride, commitment and a vision for Klickitat to strive for prosperity.

Klickitat has accomplished the Klickitat Community Horizon Newsletter, in fact, the group has published five volumes and it is improving every edition. The copying has been very important and we couldn’t have done it without the Klickitat County EDA. Personalizing the touch in Klickitat, individuals express the importance of hand delivering the newsletters to every resident in walking distance.

You to can get involved with the Klickitat Horizon Project, the Community Visioning Phase will begin in August with a survey to all Klickitat residents. Please fill it out and return it.

Keep a look out for signs for the next upcoming meeting. We hope to see you there!

Klickitat takes Action!

Saying thank you isn't always enough. In the Horizon's Study Circles our participants thought it would be thoughtful to help clean-up areas of our community.
On April 8th, 2007 a local organization, The Ladies Auxillary had an annual Easter Egg Hunt for our youth. But the Klickitat Horizons wanted to say Thank You. And that's just what they did.

Klickitat Enjoys LeadershipPlenty!

Three community members from Klickitat join the LeadershipPlenty team to learn the skills to help our communities have success in the Horizon Program.

On the left, Cheryl Steindorf has been living, breathing and dedicating many years of her life in Klickitat. Cheryl was raised in this rural community and also raised her children there. In the middle, Allie Spino has lived in Klickitat since 1980 and is currently raising her family here also. On the right, Becky Moss has dedicated her heart and time, she has lived here with her family for more than fifteen years. Rhonda Vogt and Seth Davis were unable to attend, but they have put in a great deal of time during this Horizon's Project as a whole. Many of these individuals have not only been to the LeadershipPlenty, but have been in to the Facilitator Training and are part of the Steering Committee.

Thank You, Klickitat for participating during the Study Circle Groups.

You all Care and therefore we "Klickitat" will make change.

Practice Makes Perfect

While in the Leadership Plenty in Moses Lake,Washington 23 rural communities in and around the state are learning important skills to bring back to our communities. Amongst the 23 communities 20 of them are currently involved in the Public Relations Program. Our teams are building blogs on our new community websites. Thank you Horizon's Program presented to us by WSU.