Active Living committee gets active

Ellen Pillsbury of the Arrowhead Regional Development Commission talks to the Active Living Committee about possible next steps.

About 20 community members gave up their morning tasks to learn more about a proposed Active Living Committee in Grand Marais. People with a variety of interests gathered at the William Corcoran conference room at Sawtooth Mountain Clinic on Feb. 22 to brainstorm on ways such a committee could benefit the community.

Bonnie Hundrieser of the Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency (AEOA) and Ellen Pillsbury of the Arrowhead Regional Development Commission (ARDC) facilitated the gathering, along with Kristen DeArruda-Wharton, Cook County’s State Health Improvement Program (SHIP) coordinator. The morning started as most such events do, with a few moments spent with participants introducing themselves and explaining why they agreed to attend the meeting. There were representatives from the City of Grand Marais, from Cook County Community Health, from a local daycare, a few business representatives, and numerous healthcare workers. One attendee, Harris Mills, was there as a representative of the walking public. Mills said, “I am interested in the sociology of walking.”

DeArruda-Wharton introduced Margo Furcht, who will be taking over her SHIP position while she is on maternity leave. DeArruda-Wharton shared a copy of the resolution passed by the City of Grand Marais supporting the concept of Grand Marais as an Active Living City, with its residents accumulating at least 30 minutes of activity every day. She explained that the purpose of the meeting was to “define the Community-Wide Active Living Committee (C-WALK).” To do so, DeArruda-Wharton and the AEOA and ARDC representatives conducted a consensus activity, using a creative “sticky wall” to collect, post, and organize participants’ answers to this question: What is important to create, support, and sustain opportunities for Active Living in Grand Marais?

Each duo came up with several answers and at first glance it seemed that there were few, if any, duplications. However, as the facilitators grouped the answers, several themes became apparent. Participants called out category names and debated where ideas belonged. Finally, the answer was broken down into eight simple statements explaining what is needed for a successful Active Living Committee in Grand Marais:

. Ongoing, useful education

. Demonstrated community involvement

. Well-planned, accessible infrastructure

. Year-round adaptable environments

. Diverse coordinated efforts

. Ongoing dedicated resources

. Fun, visible activities

. Common cultural acceptance

After breaking for a delicious and healthy brunch, catered by The Pie Place, participants returned to the work of defining the Active Living Committee. Grand Marais City Clerk Mike Roth asked how the committee would be funded. “Who sets up meetings, arranges meeting rooms, and contacts everyone? It seems that this group is far more effective with a paid staff member,” he said.

Public Health Nurse Joni Kristenson noted that the SHIP grant under which DeArruda- Wharton and Furcht are working ends June 30, 2011. It is uncertain whether the SHIP program will be funded again. However, Kristenson said, “The city didn’t pass a resolution saying ‘this depends on the SHIP grant.’ What we put together today is not dependent on funding. We need to develop a work plan.”

There was consensus and DeArruda-Wharton asked for direction. She said to date she has been setting the agenda, determining when meetings would be held, and notifying stakeholders. She said that may not be the best way to work. She asked if the group would prefer to establish a committee with a traditional structure or to keep things informal as they have been. After discussion, the group decided on something in between.

Noting that it is difficult for all of the stakeholders to attend every meeting, the group felt that a committee, which would require a quorum of members, would be cumbersome. It was finally decided to establish a steering committee of interested community members. Kristenson noted that some of the people who had been involved in another SHIP project— the Safe Routes to School group—were not in attendance. She suggested that the discussion regarding walking around town would be of interest to law enforcement and the county highway department. The plan to develop Grand Marais as a wellness destination would be of interest to tourism groups. And the local energy project group may be interested as well. She said perhaps some of those people would like to serve on the steering committee as well. DeArruda-Wharton agreed and said she would contact representatives from those entities to offer the opportunity to be involved with the Active Living Committee.

DeArruda- Wharton encouraged any members of the public interested in being part of the Active Living Committee to contact her or one of the steering committee members for more information. DeArruda-Wharton can be reached at (218) 387-2330.

The name of the new organization was discussed, with some strong advocates for keeping the name Community- Wide Active Living Committee (C-WALC). Gwen Danfelt- Martin of the Cooperation Station Daycare said the acronym has a very visual impact. “C-WALC, see walk!” she said, “It says what it is.”

There was some discussion of the group’s name but a decision was put off, as was development of a vision or mission statement and strategies for communicating with members of the public. However, it was decided that the steering committee would meet on the third Wednesday of each month from 8:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. The next meeting will be March 16 in the lower level of the Sawtooth Mountain Clinic from 8:30 -10:30 a.m.

Active Living Steering Committee Members