Friends of the Finland Community
Gathering, January 9, 2015
World Café Round 1:
What is working well? What do residents like about living there?
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24.
25.
26.
27.
28.
29.
30.
31.
32.
Vibrant community
Warm & friendly people
Finland Co-op
Fierce individualism and creativity
Appreciate clean air and water
Community engagement
CSA and local food
Intergenerational activities throughout broader community
Clair Nelson Youth Program
Help from neighbors
Preserve our history
Volunteer fire and rescue
Safe and trusting environment
Tuesday Talent Craft Group
Post Office
Diversity of ideas and thoughts
North Shore Area Partners' Senior Lunch
Wolf Ridge
St. Urho's Day celebration
Unique industries and cottage industries
OCA
Cell towers and service
Social and organization structures
Local business support community activities and provide employment
Trails
Schools = Wm Kelley
Community potluck
Natural beauty
Outdoor recreation
Progressive town board
Community theater
Local talent and skills
World Café Round 2:
What could we do more of? If money were no object what would you do?
(Arranged MOST DOABLE to OUTLANDISH)
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27.
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33.
34.
35.
36.
37.
38.
39.
40.
41.
42.
More community inclusion in land use issues (i.e. air base tower)
More small business incubation
Hockey rink
Ability to take a leak in your own yard w/o getting arrested
More open spiritual discussions
Instead of helping, who would be willing to contribute funds?
Clean up path/road from snowmobile parking to the bridge.
Year round community compost for 2/1 organic matter
Finland cross country ski trail
(BJ Kohlstedt 353-7745)
Directory of barter services
More artist involvement, teaching and showing work
Elderly housing and services, to keep elderly in their homes
More healthy options on the menu in local restaurants
$---Get fiber optic done
Build and new Co-op store (expand?)
Wind generator for power
Do something with the old Finland school
Community garden: plots, classes, kids project, medicinal herb garden
Community garden
(lead- Meghela ??; Fuzzy)
Youth café
(Joyce Y- lead, Nancy, Kenny Albrecht)
Farmers’ Market
Career/ educational resources to help young people find employment and stay in the area
Mural on Clair Nelson, by community, for community
(Joyce Y- lead, Nancy, Kenny Albrecht)
Utilitarian bicycle trails or paths
Band shell and more music
Directory of skills, service exchange, free trade…could be barter, online ( Sue Harrington, Terry
Miller)
Apprentice opportunities: maple syruping, trades
Wild rice processing
Non-motorized community bike trails
Community gardening and greenhouse
I would build a wild rice processing plant. We are losing places to take wild rice for processing.
(Fuzzy)
Volunteers for driving and chores
Laundry, showers (3X)
Trail services (showers and laundry), also useful for locals who have ‘rustic’ housing
Community youth hostel with showers and laundry
Community sauna (2X)
Community radio station
Community newspaper
Library
$$--‘Green’ funerals
$$-- Manufacture something uniquely “Finland”. Signature industry.
Cross country ski trails at Community Center and community land along Baptism River
43. Campground at Community center
44. Campground & gathering spot at Community Center with: concession (burgers, beer, etc), shower
building, trail maps on the outside of the building
(Sue Sonerud)
45. Revisit, revitalize original sale/use agreement for the old Finland school building
46. More things for kids to do
47. More agricultural production
48. Outdoor skating rink
49. Teen room/center with pool table, foosball, snacks and beverages
50. More support for artists (i.e. “Art Colony”), community art workshop
(Kenny Albrecht, Joyce
Yamamoto)
51. $$$- more scholarships to send local students to college
52. An inter-community economy with new small businesses, jobs, and not tourism-dependent
53. Create independent community, i.e. food, energy, products, etc.
54. $$$- swimming pool
55. $$$- Endowment fund for Clair nelson Center and/or the community as a whole. (2X)
56. Septic plan for ‘downtown’ Finland
57. Homeowners insurance
58. $$$- affordable housing: build it, fund it, promote it, and make sure all who want it have a place
(2X)
59. Dairy co-op/cheese. 6 cows on a farm
60. 3rd permit state
(Marijane)
61. Rehab airbase and claim for community service
62. $$$- public transportation
63. Coffee shop w Internet access
64. Jobs with living wages
65. Walking trails
66. Community energy
67. Get fiber optic service done
68. Better roads
69. Band shell
(Carol Youngberg)
70. Community service
71. Welcome committee
Post Meeting Ideas
1. Motorcycle camping
2. Horse trails/revamp old horse corral out behind the ball field
3. Small community bus or van could be very useful. Could be shared with North Shore Area Partners
or other local organizations
4. Coin operated shower or laundry facilities
5. Community printing business
6. More business support
7. A forum ( could be physical or internet based) for employees/employers to find each other
8. Classes on simple business skills like Quickbooks
9. Affordable and more childcare options in the area
BROAD CATEGORIES
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
HOUSING
Elderly housing and services, to keep elderly in their homes
$$$- affordable housing: build it, fund it, promote it, and make sure all who want it have a place
(2X)
CAMPGROUND
Campground at Community center
Campground & gathering spot at Community Center with: concession (burgers, beer, etc), shower
building, trail maps on the outside of the building
(Sue Sonerud)
Motorcycle camping


COMMUNITY/PUBLIC SERVICES
Community garden: plots, classes, kids project, medicinal herb garden
Community garden
(lead- Meghela ??; Fuzzy)
Laundry, showers (4X)
Community sauna (2X)
Community radio station
Community newspaper
Library
Band shell and more music; Band shell
(Carol Youngberg)
Community gardening and greenhouse
$$$- swimming pool
Small community bus or van could be very useful. Could be shared with North Shore Area Partners
or other local organizations
Affordable and more childcare options in the area
Year round community compost for 2/1 organic matter











JOBS/BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT/ECONOMY
More small business incubation
Build and new Co-op store (expand?)
Do something with the old Finland school
Farmers’ Market
Apprentice opportunities: maple syruping, trades
Wild rice processing
Build a wild rice processing plant. We are losing places to take wild rice for processing. (Fuzzy)
$$--‘Green’ funerals
$$-- Manufacture something uniquely “Finland”. Signature industry.
Revisit, revitalize original sale/use agreement for the old Finland school building
More agricultural production





















Rehab airbase and claim for community service
Coffee shop w Internet access
Jobs with living wages
Dairy co-op/cheese. 6 cows on a farm
More artist involvement, teaching and showing work
More support for artists (i.e. “Art Colony”), community art workshop
(Kenny Albrecht, Joyce
Yamamoto)
Community printing business
More business support
A forum ( could be physical or internet based) for employees/employers to find each other
Classes on simple business skills like Quickbooks








TRAILS
Finland cross country ski trail
(BJ Kohlstedt 353-7745)
Clean up path/road from snowmobile parking to the bridge.
Trail services (showers and laundry), also useful for locals who have ‘rustic’ housing
Utilitarian bicycle trails or paths
Cross country ski trails at Community Center and community land along Baptism River
Non-motorized community bike trails
Walking trails
Horse trails/revamp old horse corral out behind the ball field


SUSTAINABILITY
Instead of helping, who would be willing to contribute funds?
$$$- Endowment fund for Clair nelson Center and/or the community as a whole. (2X)











COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
More community inclusion in land use issues (i.e. air base tower)
More open spiritual discussions
Directory of barter services
More healthy options on the menu in local restaurants
Mural on Clair Nelson, by community, for community
(Joyce Y- lead, Nancy, Kenny Albrecht)
Directory of skills, service exchange, free trade…could be barter, online ( Sue Harrington, Terry
Miller)
Volunteers for driving and chores
An inter-community economy with new small businesses, jobs, and not tourism-dependent
Create independent community, i.e. food, energy, products, etc.
Community service
Welcome committee






INFRASTRUCTURE
$---Get fiber optic done (2X)
Wind generator for power
$$$- public transportation
Outdoor skating, hockey rink
Septic plan for ‘downtown’ Finland
Community energy






YOUTH
Youth café
(Joyce Y- lead, Nancy, Kenny Albrecht)
Career/ educational resources to help young people find employment and stay in the area
Community youth hostel with showers and laundry
More things for kids to do
Teen room/center with pool table, foosball, snacks and beverages
$$$- more scholarships to send local students to college




OTHER
Ability to take a leak in your own yard w/o getting arrested
Homeowners insurance
3rd permit state
(Marijane)
Better roads