Graham
Revitalization Economic Action Team Minutes
September
18, 2014
Location
and Sponsor: Snowbird Youth & Teen Center/EBCI
I.
Welcome/Introductions
A.
Executive
Director Rick Davis welcomed everyone to the meeting and expressed appreciation
to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians for sponsorship of the meeting and to
Wandas Jackson Blythe for hosting at the newly constructed Snowbird Youth &
Teen Center. Larry Blythe, Vice
Chief of the EBCI brought a welcome
and provided information on upcoming activities of EBCI in Graham County. Matt
Hollifield, Director of the Cherokee Boys Club provided information on the
activities of the Center and encouraged participation from Graham County youth.
Director Davis recognized the GREAT Board of Directors, elected officials from
the County, Lake Santeetlah, and Town of Fontana and special guests. The Center
was recognized for the delicious food prepared on site.
II. General Items
A. Approval of Minutes of Previous Meeting: Minutes of the July 17, 2014 GREAT meeting were approved with a motion from David Dodson and a second by Beth Fields.
B.
Approval of the Agenda: The
agenda for the meeting was approved with a motion by Beverly Whitehead and a
second by Dick Evans
III. Reports/Discussion Items
A.
Committee Reports
Executive Director Rick Davis introduced GREAT committee chairs who provided updates from each committee. The committee report is attached for information.
B.
GREAT Financial Report
Treasurer Pam Shaffer presented the GREAT Financial Report and asked if
there were any questions or discussion. Report was accepted.
IV.
Guest
Speakers
Executive Director Rick Davis introduced Jennifer Trippe, Western Zone Outreach Coordinator with MannaFood Bank and recognized the organization’s contributions to Graham County. Ms. Trippe provided information on several MannaFood Bank activities including the Graham Fellowship Food Distribution Project, GCS Backpack program and Graham County Emergency Food Bank program.
V. Updates/Announcements
A.
County/Town Updates
County and town officials provided updates on news and upcoming events.
B. Regional/State/Legislative
Delegation Updates
Regional partners and legislative officials provided updates for the audience and responded to questions and suggestions.
C.
Director’s Report
o
Executive Director Rick Davis
introduced Sasha Watty with the Cherokee Preservation Foundation who announced
the Cherokee Preservation Foundation grant of $23,650 for the RHS Greenway
Outdoor Classroom Project.
o
Executive Director Rick Davis
announced that participants had pledged over almost $2,700 at the meeting to
support the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Project.
o
Executive Director Rick Davis
provided information on the November GREAT meeting to be sponsored by Brookfield Renewable Energy on
November 13th at Fontana
Village.
VI.
Adjourn
The
meeting was concluded.
GREAT Committee Reports
September 18, 2014
Education
and Workforce Development Committee
The GREAT Education and
Workforce Development Committee met Monday, September 15, 2014 at Robbinsville
High School. Members present included: Rhonda
Anderson, Nancy Norcross, Forsythia Cable, Lindsey Carpenter, Anne Eck, Sara
Davis, Angie Knight, and Rick Davis.
·
The
Graham County Schools’ School Supply Drive was a great success.
The community worked together and provided school supplies for all
students grades Pre-K – 12.
·
Graham
County Schools’ held the 1st Annual Day of Caring on 9/11/14.
This was a very successful event which gave students and faculty an
opportunity to give back to the community.
·
Phase
I of the new RMS/RHS baseball field is completed.
·
Project
Care is up and running—serving students at all three schools with mental
health/counseling services.
·
Twelve
students from RMS/RHS attended the “Chick-Filet” LeaderCast program in
Franklin, NC on August 6, 2014.
·
The
“PREPare for Success” grant, which was originally a 3 year grant, has been
funded for a 4th year for an additional $107,200.
·
RHS
Carpentry students are beginning a small project with the USFS which involves
renovating the spray building
Tourism
and Mountain Culture Committee
The committee
has developed a Request for Proposals document for the Graham County
Comprehensive Tourism Plan. Proposal
and bid solicitation was sent to twelve media and marketing firms in North
Carolina and three proposals were received. The committee met on July 31st and
Magellan Strategy Group of Asheville was selected to be recommended to the GREAT
Board of Directors. On August 18th, the GREAT Board approved the bid
recommendation from Magellan represented by owner, Chris Cavanaugh. An initial
meeting with the consultant was held on September 2nd and we anticipate getting
underway the week of September 29th.
Recreation,
Natural Resources and Water Quality Committee
·
Three
members completed CPR/First Aid certification and Forest Service chainsaw
certification which will allow these members to use chainsaws when clearing
trails and overlooks of brush, down trees, etc.
·
Five
members worked on brush clearing on the new Santeetlah Bike Trail.
·
Approximately
12 committee members helped install a 20 ft bridge on the Joyce Kilmer Naked
Ground trail.
·
Two
work days by several members on the Benton MacKaye Trail.
·
A
Fund raiser for Partners of Joyce Kilmer was held at the Auto Hill Climb on
Maple Springs Road.
·
Due
to personnel losses at the Forest Service, The Partners of Joyce Kilmer is
providing funding through October for the cleaning of Joyce Kilmer bathrooms and
trash collection.
Upcoming Projects:
·
September
19 - meet 8:30am at Forest Service District Office for Snowbird Trail litter
pick up.
·
October
04 - Clean Sweep roadside litter pick up, email Dave Hagen at dcdhagan@gmail.com
for more information.
·
October
18 - Lake Santeetlah litter clean up, email Dave Dodson at dsdodson2001@gmail.com
for more information. November, 2014 - Graham County scenic overlook clearing
maintenance begins, email Dave Dodson at dsdodson2001@gmail.com
for more information.
·
See
hike schedule sheet for upcoming hikes.