GREAT Annual
Meeting - January 15, 2009
The meeting was held in the Robbinsville Elementary School Auditorium at 6 p.m.
The meeting was called to order by Rick Davis, Director who
presented the welcome and special introductions were made.
A thank you was given to Margaret Evans from Stecoah Food Ventures for
the excellent food. An explanation
of GREAT and what it was established for was presented.
Also a special thank you to Teresa Garland and the RHS students in
attendance from the Leadership Training Program (Knights of the Roundtable) now
in progress was given.
Claudie
Burchfield presented the business items: The
minutes for the November 20, 2008 meeting were approved as read, motion by
Alicia Parham, 2nd Lynn Shields.
The agenda was accepted and approved motion by Beverly Whitehead, 2nd
Lynn Shields.
Lynn Shields presented the financial report and the motion
to accept as read was made by Alicia Parham, 2nd Yvette Carringer.
The nominations for GREAT Board of Directors are: Alicia
Parham, Claudie Burchfield, Donnie Stiles, Lynn Shields, Michael Wiggins, Pam
Shaffer, Rhonda Anderson, Teresa Garland, T.J. Holland, Yvette Carringer,
Kristen Shuler, Ralph Hooper, Carol Lambert, and Randy Everhart.
Motion to accept was made by Beverly Whitehead, 2nd by Summer
Carringer, and the motion carried.
Motion to adjourn the business session was made by Alicia
Parham, 2nd by Yvette Carringer.
Public Discussion and Input were the next items on the
agenda.
Claudie Burchfield presented the History of GREAT. Rick
Davis presented the Strategic Plan. A
welcome to Mark Roberts and Sara Day Evans from NC Dept. of Commerce was given
by the Director.
A presentation from the committees on their priorities and
accomplishments was done.
Economic Development, Business and Industry- Claudie
Burchfield
A priority for this committee is to support existing business, and to encourage new businesses to relocate to Graham County.
A Business Publication will be done featuring local businesses
Quality training in the hospitality fields
Support small business entrepreneurs and start-ups for small businesses
Input from the audience was to encourage more green
businesses, historical/old building renovations for new and existing businesses.
Education and Workforce Development-Rhonda Anderson
Equip citizens with needs for workforce by conducting development research.
Research existing programs in schools and trying to teach local business needs along with offering highest quality of education
Work with legislators for local needs
Look at offering pre-school/after school for non-school days
Enlarge drop-out prevention programs
Enhance drug and alcohol abuse programs
Lobby for tax and lottery funds.
Input from the audience suggested more general health education
Tourism and Mountain Culture-Lynn Shields
Work with Travel and Tourism to develop a county plan
Implement Heritage Development Plan
Develop a new business center
Support the Arts and Craft community
Work with Stecoah Valley Center on gallery expansion and an artist’s directory
Promote agritourism
Create a heritage museum
Work with the birding community to promote business
Eve Rogers with the Cooperative Extension office is looking at promoting a quilt trail
Support Clementine Cove developments
Input from the audience wanted to know what kind of funding Graham County has to develop a marketing and advertising plan.
Revitalization and Infrastructure-Rick Davis
Increase internet accessibility-progress has been made and Stecoah Valley and Fontana should be DSL accessible in June/July 2009
Input from the audience suggested that more be done to revitalize downtown Robbinsville.
Recreation, Natural Resources
and Water Quality-Rick Davis
Most of the focus has been on recreation and the grant to fund the pool
Jason Sawyer and Josh Carpenter reported that they are currently working on a grant for a recreation complex beginning with a playground.
Input from the audience concerns were voiced about affordable local housing and Graham County website could use a facelift.
Mark Roberts with the Dept. of Commerce spoke to the group about working with Graham County, the things he had seen accomplished and what he would like to help them accomplish.
Leadership and Government-Teresa Garland
Encourage and strengthen job training
Youth leadership training
Work to establish the business guide for Graham County
Input from the audience questioned if there was to be an established greenway on Long Creek and the tying in of Stanley Recreation Park.
Health and Social-Alicia Parham
Community Health Assessment completed and 2 top ranking priorities are obesity and diabetes
Target family fitness
Diabetes support groups for adults and children
Girls on Run grades 3-5 mentor program
Graham County now has l full time dentist
School based health center grant has been discontinued, work to find funds to continue
Water Quality Health Dept. received a $560000 grant to replace septic systems in the watershed areas of Graham County.
Input from the audience suggested more alcohol and drug prevention
Walk to Bethlehem was a success an average of 6348 miles were logged per team consisting of 26 teams over 100000 miles were walked
Rick Davis then recognized James Budd-Graham Star, and
Lavina West-Graham Sentinel
The GREAT Board of Directors will meet February 19, 2009.
The next GREAT meeting will be March 19, 2009 12:00 noon.
March 16, 2009 is Qualla-T customer Service and Hospitality
training
The meeting was adjourned by Rick Davis, Director @ 8:30 p.m.