Mantorville Needs You

May 15, 2017

One of the things that makes our community so strong is our level of volunteerism. In my last couple of articles, I have mentioned the Fire Department and the Park Board. I wanted to expand this discussion this week and give a few updates on our progress with some of the volunteer boards. I would strongly encourage everyone to reach out to one of these boards and see where your skillset might be able to help out our community needs.

EDA:
During the last EDA meeting one commissioner tendered their resignation thereby opening an opportunity with the Mantorville Economic Development Authority. The EDA's primary mission is to promote and support the economic vitality of the business community and grow new business opportunities within the community. The EDA is also leading the efforts to identify opportunities where the Rochester Sales Tax money could be applied. Along with promoting the economic health of our community the EDA also promotes tourism and was the lead of our recent Branding effort. The EDA also is charged with selecting recipients for the annual Mantorville GEM award which is presented every year during Marigold Days. Along with the regular business of the EDA, there are four main subcommittees that the EDA oversees. The four EDA subcommittees are Tourism, Branding, Trails and Stagecoach Days. Commissioners on the EDA are appointed by the City Council. Those interested in being apart of the Mantorville EDA are encouraged to submit an application to City Hall.

Park Board:
In my last article, I mentioned that the last two opportunists would go quickly. The Park Board is now up to full membership. Thank you to all those that took time to fill out an application and also a huge thank you to our new Park Board Commissioners.

Fire Department:
It has been said that you can always tell a firefighter, they are the ones running towards danger when everybody else is running from it. Mantorville's Firefighters are those kind of people, men and women that are willing to place themselves in harms way in order to help others. Do you have the right stuff to help out? The Fire Department still has one opening available for a volunteer fire fighter. The Mantorville Fire Department is both a First Responder rescue as well as a Fire Department. Being a member of our Fire Department is a great way to gain valuable first aide skills as well as being a member of a community of brothers that protect life as well as property. Interested volunteers can contact J.J. Williams or fill out an application at City Hall.

Additional Mantorville Area Volunteer Opportunities

Mantorville Theater Company:
Do you have a flare for the dramatic? Do you like making people happy? Perhaps the Mantorville
Theater Company is a good fit for you. From the Mantorville Theater Company web site their mission statement in part reads “The purpose of this corporation shall be to establish and maintain a community theatre group and provide civic entertainment in the area of theatre, i.e. melodrama, musical plays, children's plays and other related theater activities to provide facilities for meetings of members and to lease, rent or own real property and borrow money thereon by mortgage or otherwise and to sell such real estate in whole or in part.  This corporation shall not afford pecuniary gain, incidentally or otherwise to its members.“ Our theater is a great way for anyone who likes to have fun, enjoys singing or otherwise just enjoys making people laugh and have fun. This is a great opportunity and I encourage more of our citizens to get involved with our performances. Anyone interested in being a part of the MTC is encouraged to contact the board at: mantorvilletheatre@yahoo.com.

Mantorville Restoration Association:
It has been said that if we do not remember our past we are doomed to repeat it. While we can certainly learn from our past, I'm not sure we should say we are doomed to repeat it. I think there are many aspects from our past that if we only could repeat them we most likely would. A very important part of remembering the good and the bad from our past is to maintain a tangible link across generations. The Historical assets of a community can and do tell you a great deal about the people that have lived there and the values of the people that still do. Mantorville is fortunate enough to have a board who's sole focus is the retention and preservation of the towns historical assets, the Mantorville Restoration Association. Their mission statement is “The corporation investigates the history of Mantorville, Dodge County and the state of Minnesota. It provides for the collection, preservation and dissemination of this knowledge and information. The corporation provides for the collection, preservation and display of papers, books, records, relics and articles of historical interest at one or more of its preservation properties”. (as listed on Guide Star at https://www.guidestar.org/profile/41-6056629 )

Dodge County Historical Society:
Mantorville is also home to the Dodge County Historical Society as well as the MRA. Both of these organizations help keep our history alive and work to preserve and protect those tangible assets that connect us across generations. The Dodge County Historical Society's web site is at http://www.dodgecountyhistorical.org/. According to their web site the volunteer opportunities are “Are you looking for a great way to meet people, learn about history, or build your resume? We are looking for Historical Interpreters (or docents), hosts, special events volunteers, and other volunteers to assist the staff in the daily operations of the Museum. Scheduling and time commitments are flexible. Our volunteers work as little as one day a month, or as much as once a week.”

Marigold Days:
The way it all began as posted on the Marigold Days Web site is :”It all began with the humble marigold, a hearty and colorful little flower native to the Americas.  Initially begun as a flower show to promote the planting of marigolds throughout the Mantorville community, with the sponsorship of Marigold Dairies, Rochester, Minnesota, this event has grown to be on one the region’s best known and most attended annual festivals.” The summer's end event that currently draws in thousands of visitors each year. The planning for this event starts a few days after the current years event ends. This weekend itself has many areas for people to volunteer. There are music venues, organizing vendors, scheduling events, arranging the parade, the car show, quilt show far too many to name them all. Those that are able to help out should contact the committee directly. The contact info is: xmarigolddays2015@gmail.com

There are also other opportunities within our community to help out with. Some of the opportunities include the Chamber of Commerce, Mantorville Tourism, Dodge County Trails Association as well as The Kasson Mantorville Lions. There are many opportunities within our community to help make our home a better place through volunteerism. I encourage everyone to find an area that interest them and help out where you can while having fun, connecting and making a difference in the community.


Yours in service,

Chuck Bradford,
Mayor - City of Mantorville
MayorBradford.BlogSpot.com