WCMCA hosts Annual Meeting

West Central Minnesota Communities Action, Inc. hosted their Annual Meeting on Tuesday, May 22, 2018 at the Wheaton American Legion.  The evening’s festivities highlighted WCMCA’s community partners and individuals, Board members, and staff members for their dedicated service in partnering to build community and empower people to overcome poverty and achieve their full potential.

Community Partner Awards

WCMCA honored individuals and organizations in appreciation for their dedicated partnership to WCMCA’s programs.

Calvary Lutheran Church, Alexandria has been a host site for WCMCA’s Free Tax Prep Program during the tax season.  In appreciation for the Community Partner Award, Hans Dahl, Senior Pastor, submitted a thank you video.

Calvary Lutheran Church Thank You – Community Partner Award

Franchetta Haupert, Horizon Public Health, was honored with the Community Partner Award for her dedication in working with the Head Start program.

L to R:  Jody Loher, Head Start Supervisor; Loretta Kruger, Early Head Start – Traverse County; Franchetta Haupert, Horizon Public Health; Teresa Gustafson, WCMCA Board Chair; and Val Arnquist, WCMCA Head Start Director.

Debra Lysford and Emajean Ford, Douglas County HRA, have worked closely with our Housing Department staff, and were awarded a Community Partner Award for their commitment.

L to R:  Diane Bender, Weatherization Coordinator; Debra Lysford and Emajean Ford, Douglas County HRA; and Teresa Gustafson, WCMCA Board Chair.

Brad Larson, Larson Oil Company, received a Community Partner Award for his loyalty in working with WCMCA’s Energy Assistance Program.  Brad and the Larson Oil Company employees have gone out in cold, sometimes stormy, weather to fill clients’ fuel tanks to ensure a warm home.

L to R:  Teresa Gustafson, WCMCA Board Chair; Brad Larson, Larson Oil Company; and Linda Rupp, WCMCA Energy Assistance Program Specialist.

Institution / Community Work Crew (ICWC) were honored for their dedication and commitment to the Affordable Housing program, and the WCMCA, Inc. agency as a whole.  This group of men have worked on numerous projects throughout the agency:  Affordable Housing and MURL programs; renovation projects at the Douglas County Courthouse and the Douglas County Library; finished projects at the WCMCA Group Cares Camp; and maintenance at the WCMCA offices in Elbow Lake and Alexandria.

L to R:  Joe Niehaus, WCMCA Lead Housing Auditor; Dan Niemann, ICWC; Dan Olson, ICW Crew Leader;  Larry Davis, ICWC; Darrol Sherpersky, ICWC; Dennis Hansen, ICWC; Matt Dornsbach, ICWC; Patrick Kreger, ICWC; Teresa Gustafson, WCMCA Board Chair; and Scott Miller, Minnesota Department of Corrections.

WCMCA Board of Director Retirements

WCMCA honored outgoing Board members Lara Dean, Tiffany Hokanson and Owen Miller.  Thank you for your years of services to WCMCA, Inc.

L to R:  Teresa Gustafson, WCMCA Board Chair and Lara Dean, former WCMCA Board Member.

WCMCA Staff  Recognition

Numerous WCMCA staff were recognized for their years’ of hard work and dedicated services to the families of our service areas.  They are as follows:

35 Years of Service – Val Arnquist

L to R:  Carol Boyer, Chief Financial Officer; Val Arnquist, Head Start Supervisor; and Teresa Gustafson, WCMCA Board Chair

25 Years of Service – Deb Henry

L to R:  Carol Boyer, Chief Financial Officer; Deb Henry, Head Start Supervisor; and Teresa Gustafson, WCMCA Board Chair

20 Years of Service

L to R:  Carol Boyer, Chief Financial Officer; Jody Loher, Head Start Supervisor; Linda Rupp, EAP Specialist; and Teresa Gustafson, WCMCA Board Chair.  Not pictured:  Denise Holm, Barb Keep, Shelia Vacek.

15 Years of Service

L to R:  Carol Boyer, Chief Financial Officer; Jim Haugen, Head Start Supervisor; Julie Dahlen, Head Start Systems Specialist; and Teresa Gustafson, WCMCA Board Chair.

10 Years of Service

L to R:  Carol Boyer, Chief Financial Officer; Stacie Rylander, Head Start FES; Imogen Kirckof, Head Start FES; Taanna Horn, Head Start Supervisor; and Teresa Gustafson, WCMCA Board Chair.  Not pictured:  Edith Gullickson.

5 Years of Service

Front Row (L to R):  Deb Vikander, Frannie Hunter, Heather Molesworth, Teresa Gustafson.  Back Row (L to R): Carol Boyer, Julie Vry, Amber Rousu, Deb Lontz, Bonnie Kuhlmann, and Carrie Harthun.

Not pictured:  Kristy Batson, Joyce Detjen, Denise Frederick, Marie Graybear, Sandy Karl, Amy Olsen, Marisa Ostendorf, Kali Peterson, and Amanda Tyrell.

3 Years of Service

Front Row (L to R):  Tracy Zickur, Toby Weigand, Melissa Whittemore, Brad Korn, JoDee Olson, Beth Huebner, and Andrea Goeden.  Back Row (L to R):  Carol Boyer, Gene Wyttenback, Kelli Winter, Michelle Seidel, Amy Lohse, Kollyn Malecha, Amber Holmstrom, Alisha Gramith, Peggy Dauphinais, Kim Englund, Angie Bakken, Mikkel Anderson, Kathy Scharnowske and Teresa Gustafson.

Not pictured:  Heather Carlson, Mary Cullen, Dena Flath, Tena Fraki, Kim Haugen, Julie Johnson, Veronica Martinez, Pamela Roepke, Emily Rosin, Hayley Vargas, and Kristi Williams.

Thank you to everyone who was able to attend and share the evening with us.  Your hard work and commitment in assisting WCMCA with our Mission Statement:  “Partnering to build community and empower people to overcome poverty and achieve their full potential” is greatly appreciated.