Iroquois, SD

As I compare our town with how we were 2 years ago, I can see great changes in leadership capabilities.
One example would be planning our annual sports day held every summer. It used to be left up to the city council. Now each organization in town is represented as a committee to plan the event. A lot of ideas are forming because of that. while some people do not want to be leaders, if asked they will do what needs to be done.
I think each separate organization in town now compliments the other and is willing to give credit where do.
We are currently working on fund raisers to help defray the cost of our electronic sign that will be installed along Highway 14.It is many minds working together to benefit our town.

Check out the comment on the Sanborn Central site concerning the Affordable Housing Seminar to be held in Howard, SD on Feb. 19. Many “experts” on housing in SD will be there and also a couple of us from Iroquois Housing will be in attendance to relay our experiences in creative housing and hopefully bring home some new ideas. Please check it out and if interested, attend. It’s going to take all of us, in all our communities, to overcome the housing problems of small town SD.

The Iroquois Community Club met tonight at the High School Library.  The Iroquois Community Club and Horizons group agreed to join forces to promote our community and its activities.  We have decided to set up a calling tree to remind people of our meetings.  Upcoming events include our Horizons Celebration on Saturday, February 9 at 7:00 p.m. in the south gym of the school.  We are asking for volunteers to meet on the 9th at 5:00 p.m. to help set up. 

Other upcoming community events:

Sports Day Planning Meeting, Monday, February 11,  7:00 p.m. at the city hall.

Community Club Meeting, Monday, March 3,  7:00 p.m. at the city hall.  (Please note the change of location)

Easter Egg Hunt, Saturday, March 22, 2-4 p.m. at the school gyms.

The city of Iroquois is getting an electronic sign to be placed on Highway 14 near the Country Store. This is a joint effort of the Horizons group, city of Iroquois, Community Club and many citizens of the town. Hopefully we’ll be erecting the sign as soon as the weather moderates. It will be a two (2) line display facing both directions and will be an attractive light orange in color.

Q: In what ways is your community more aware of it’s strengths or assests?
A: I think the more we get to know the people in our community, the more we know their capabilities. The selling point in any community is to ask people to get involved in whatever project you may have.
This was made evident when our grocery store in town was about to close. People got together and talked about ways they could keep it open. As a result, a local family decided to buy it and keep it open. they are now in the process of remodeling it.
I think that the study circles that we had really drew the community together. As we would be talking in our various groups, many leadership qualities came to light. as a result, people were communicating about different things that they wanted to see happen in our town.

Iroquois is proud to say that we have a new day care provider in town. Megan Cameron and her husband, Faron,have bought her grandmother’s house on the south side of town, and has started a day care in town.
Megan had an open house on Saturday, Jan. 5th to give the people in the area to meet her and see home, or to ask questions they may have.
After the first week, Megan has 7 children in her day care already.
This proves that this was a very needed service in Iroquois, and allows area moms to leave their children in the capable hands of Megan, while they work.

The Iroquois community has held many special events prior to being a Horizons community.  In the past, door prizes for these special events were purchased or donated by businesses out of town, or local businesses were asked to donate door prizes.  The Iroquois Horizons group recently held its Fall Festival.  For this event, our Horizons group purchased gift certificates from each Iroquois business so that the money stays in town.  Our hope is that local people will utilize our local businesses.