Villisca

Superintendent Search

As you may have heard, Villisca has begun the search for a new superintendent for our School District. If you have been dreaming of returning to Villisca and have the qualifications for this position, we would encourage you to apply. If you know of someone else who might be interested, please send along this information to them. We are looking for a qualified individual who has a heart for rural schools. Send your resume and cover letter to the Ray and Associates, Inc., 4403 1st Ave SE, Suite 407, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402-3221.

 Following is some information about the superintendent search that appeared in the Review this week:

It can be an exciting and a daunting time for rural schools in these days of reduced enrollment and reduced financial resources. The evening of April 16, representatives of the communities of Villisca and Corning met to develop criteria for a superintendent search for a shared superintendent for the two communities. Earlier in the day groups meet together representing staff from the two schools, teachers and administrators – all with the same purpose.

            At first glance, the idea of sharing a superintendent may seem a setback to each school district. It indeed means that there will not be a superintendent on location full time in either district. And it means that the superintendent will not be able to be at every sports event, at every extra-curricular activity.

Once, however, one gets through the thoughts about what will be lost, it is time to look at the other side – the side of what can be and the benefits to both school districts. What comes to mind immediately, of course, are the financial gains. Each school district will, in the near term, receive some incentive dollars from the State of Iowa to share the position. There will also be the savings of reduced superintendent salary expenses. To a lesser extent, there will also be savings on costs of travel and attending meetings for meetings all superintendents attend since one superintendent will be attending for two districts.

Some of the other benefits are yet unseen. As each school district works through the challenges of a shared superintendent, new leaders, ideas and opportunities may emerge benefitting the students. It is a book yet to be written. Attitudes within the schools and within the communities will significantly impact the outcomes. It is essential for the students to thrive in both districts that things remain positive and that both school districts and all communities involved see the advantages for the students.

The search has begun. The school districts are using an executive search firm that specializes in filling vacancies in schools. The sessions on April 16 were intended to give this search firm guidance in what the districts were looking for in a new superintendent. There may be a former Villiscan who would be interested in being superintendent or knows of someone who might be interested. If so, they can send the resume and cover letter to the Ray and Associates, Inc., 4403 1st Ave SE, Suite 407, Cedar Rapids, IA 52402-3221.

2009 All-Class Reunion Registration

Did you receive your letter with the registration information for the 2009 All-Class Reunion?  If not, here’s the registration information:

 

Registration & Sit-down Meal - $25.00 (choice of roast beef or smoked pork chop)

Registration Only (no meal) - $5.00

t-shirts $10.00 each – sizes sm, med, lg, x-lg, xx-lg

Send registrations to 2009 VHS All-Class Reunion, P.O. Box 45, Villisca, IA 50864

Registrations are due NOW. Details of the Reunion can be found at www.villisca.com/2009All-ClassReunion.htm  The webpage will be updated as new information is available

 

If you have not received the VAFA or All-Class Reunion letters, it may be that we do not have your correct address.  Please send contact information to alumni@villisca.com

If you have not sent in your VAFA membership of $25.00, it can be sent to the address above.

WOW - We are almost there

Great news - we are just $333. from the amount needed for the study regarding the future of the Armory. Through the Horizon's Action Committee, approximately $5987. has been raised in the last several months with contributions ranging from $5. to $1,000. We thank each person who has given generously. If you would like to help us raise that last $333.- send your contribution to Villisca Historical Society, 113 West 5th Street, Villisca, IA 50864. To learn more about the purpose of the study and more information about the vision for the future, visit www.villisca.com/Armory.htm  This is an exciting project and can have a wonderful place in Villisca's future.

Be a Link

When I was doing some research on the Internet this week, I ran into Carolyn Gage's obituary on VilliscaMovie.com's website. It reminded me of her response when someone would comment on her community service - she would tell about her dad teaching her that she needed to be a link, meaning  to be sure that she upheld her place and duty to society. She learned her lesson well. Carolyn was a champion for Villisca. She did not take herself seriously so many things she did were a little different like taking a pig to the Capitol and getting Gov. Brandsted to have his picture taken with that hog. She also talked a lot of us to wear these Pig hats she had purchased to promote Villisca in Shenandoah the night before Ragbrai came through Villisca in 1992. While others stand ready to do that again, distributing a special edition of the Review to riders in Red Oak Sunday night the 20, I'll admit, I will be a link in a different way this time around.

Our community has any number of ways for Villiscans to "be a link" these days. There is a lot of creativity and some hard work that needs to be done to prepare for the Ragbrai riders who will be coming through Villisca on July 20. For information about the variety of ways you can be a part of this fun day, go to www.villisca.com/RagbraiforVilliscans.htm

Bragging on Villisca

As many know, Villisca is a Horizon's Community and some of the goals of that program is to address poverty issues within the community and to build Leadership recognizing that most communities have plenty of leadership - but the plenty is often unidentified - that is where the plenty in LeadershipPlenty comes in. The Horizons program is a program of the Northwest Area Foundation and is facilitated in Iowa by ISU Extension.  I've just posted the following to the Horizons blog and decided it deserved being posted here as well.

Talk about Leadership"Plenty" - The Villisca newspaper reported this week that there were 450 people who volunteered in one way or another to make the Joel Herzberg Family Fun Day happen. Admittedly they were not all Villiscans. For instance, people from the Pork Producers came over with their grill to help grill the 1000 pork patties for the evening dinner. But WOW - what a witness to rural Iowa!
    And that is not all that was reported in this week's paper. On Easter Sunday, the Advent Christian Church served their first annual Easter Dinner. They have for years served a community Thanksgiving Dinner so that those without funds could have a turkey dinner with all the trimmings and those without family around would not be alone. In the Study Groups we talked about both kinds of poverty. And now they've stepped up to the plate and addressed both kinds of poverty on Easter.
    And the Methodists have stepped up to the plate as well. They will this week begin serving a Sunday evening meal at their church - no strings (or dollars) attached - everyone welcome.
    And the fourth thing - the Pack 45 Cub Scouts just finished their annual Scouting for Food to help replenish our community Food Pantry. They logged in 20 volunteer hours plus the hours of the parents and leaders who worked with them.

Kudos to all Villiscans who everyday make a difference in the lives of others every day - often unnoticed and without praise.

Joel Herzberg Family Fun Day a Success

What an event the Joel Herzberg Family Fun Day was on April 11.  Kudos must go out to the organizers. It was amazing what they were able to put together. Thanks also must go out to all those who participated in the many events in support of the Herzbergs. It was great to see Joel and to experience the miracle with him of how far he has come. We've posted some early pictures of the day on the Joel Herzberg Family Fun page on villisca.com and on the Villisca Alumni and Friends Assoc. facebook page. Watch for more photos to come in the days ahead.

LeadershipPlenty Participants Speak

Behind the LeadershipPlenty® training program which some Villiscans are participating in is the belief that there is plenty of leadership in a community – untapped talents which, if put to use, would make our communities better places to live, work and raise families. The diversity of the LeadershipPlenty® group is illustrative of the diversity of our community and the blend of those experienced in leadership and some just now developing those skills.

Following are some comments from our LeadershipPlenty meeting last Thursday:

“I think this program did an amazing thing in bringing such a diverse group of people together. We all actually have fun together and have all found ways to help our community. I’m quite sure this would never have happened without the Horizons program.”

“When we have meetings, I’ve learned to get everyone’s views even if its different from mine. Iknow its good to get all the different views so we can make the best decision.”

“The Horizons Program has been a good way to interact with people from this that I would not have otherwise met or interacted with.”

“Just by meeting a few new people, you gain many connections to many valuable untapped local resources and talent. It has inspired us to be more active in the community and has provided the resources and encouragement to do so. Thank you!”

“Many great ideas have been proposed for future projects to make Villisca even more appealing than it is right now.”

“This has been an excellent learning environment in which we have learned to improve communication skills. The food has been great too! :-)”

“Horizons - LeadershipPlenty has provided opportunity for a group with varied backgrounds & interests to come together to work for community betterment.”

“Horizons LeadershipPlenty has helped me a great deal meeting people in Villisca. I am usually a shy person and I feel like I can speak up and say my opinion on matters. This has given me confidence. I really enjoy the feeling of friends when we get together and I am more willing to volunteer for different activities.”

Ragbrai stop in Villisca-We need your help!

Volunteers are needed to make the Ragbrai stop in Villisca in 2009 memorable. Go to www.villisca.com to download the form for volunteering - people are needed to serve on committees, to help prepare Villisca in advance of the visit and to help the day of.  We are also asking for an exciting slogan, catchy phrase or tag line the Ragbrai visit.  And finally, we are looking for photos from the 1992 Ragbrai stop to use on the Villisca website.

Joel Herzberg Family Fun Day-April 11

Go to www.villisca.com and click on Joel Herzberg Family Fun Day to go to a page with the schedule of events, registration forms for the 3 on 3 Basketball Tournament and the 5K/10K Walk/Run and for a list of the auction items.

From the April 1st Villisca School Bulletin "Remember to register for the Walk/Run and the 3 on 3 for Joel's Day.  We have LOTS of teams registered in the 3 on 3 but there are no high school boys' teams from Villisca and only one high school girls' team from Villisca registered.  We are also short on Junior High boys' teams.  Registration forms are available in the office.  The day's events are just for fun to support Joel.  You do not have to be athletic to participate."