Mead's 1999 Nebraska Community Improvement Program Submission

Community: Mead Population: 530

Name of Project: MY NCIP

Special Award Nomination: Leadership - Youth Leadership

Project Coordinators: Phil Miller, FFA Advisor; Anneke Gustafson, Amy Rassmussen, and Katie Deerson - NCIP Committee Members; Diane Gustafson - community volunteer

Project Time Table: long term and ongoing

Date began: August 1997 Date completed: On going

Volunteer hours: 700 Number of Volunteers: 50 Age Range: 12 - 70

Goal Statement: Provide opportunities for our youth to accept leadership roles.

Connection to community goals: From Mead's very first community attitude survey through the school visioning process and in daily conversation with adults around the community - one item remains constant - Mead residents want young people to take on leadership roles, share in the betterment efforts and offer their ideas for a better community.

Project Summary: Several projects are in this summary, each having a significant value and each showcasing the leadership or our young people.

NCIP Committee Members: Mead has been an NCIP community for six years and in each of those years, Mead youth have helped with projects, created projects and worked with both the town board and the school board in various activities. This year, however, really shines. MY NCIP was born. MY - Mead Youth is the voice of our student NCIP committee members and combined with other young volunteers and leaders are a powerful group. They share ideas and visions. They are responsible for press releases, gathering the background information used in this NCIP book and representing the community in various functions.

NCIP Judges were greeted by students at last year's NCIP community visit and the students are the lead for this year's judges visit. They have been tasked with planning the agenda, speakers and time line. The judges should have a fun visit. About a dozen students were presenters on various projects last year. Two students were able to attend the NCIP conference and banquet in Sydney in November 1998 - Kenny Scheele and Adam Peterson.

Fall Festival of Colors: The Fall Festival of Colors is an annual event conducted by the University of Nebraska, south of Mead. While Mead might be the zip code for this fantastic show that greets some 10,000 visitors - it wasn't until September 1998 when Mead Youth went to work at that event. A group of young people were brainstorming about how to promote our community to these 10,000 visitors who were just a few steps away. Chris Gustafson took the idea to the organizational host and a trade was made; Mead Youth could set up a promotional booth if they were willing to help keep the trash emptied and serve at the event. Not only did our young people fulfill their commitment to work, they also, set up a nice display and was available to answer questions. The volunteer effort continued when the festival date was moved up to August 28, 1999. Students sold bottled water, policed the area and served in a number of roles.

Everything is coming up Native Grasses: This project is presented in greater detail as a special award in it's own right - but here is another case where MY NCIP really shined. Local "green thumb" Joan Swanson has a knack for growing things and it the lead on a beautification project that involves the entrance to town and the public library green space. Anneke Gustafson, armed with the results of the Mead Student Interest Survey, found student volunteers to weed the median into town, sent reminder postcards to everyone involved and was often seen pulling weeds during her leisurely summer vacation. Students are also on-line to put in some of the back straining dirt work for another project coming soon to the library.

Student Interest Survey: In May, Jr. and Sr. High Students completed a student survey of MY NCIP projects slated for the upcoming year. Fourteen students volunteered to work with the beautification project, four volunteered to work at the library and sixteen have volunteered to work with public awareness.

FFA: Mead FFA students shine! They are eager to learn, compete and work hard. Their advisor, Phil Miller, has been a guiding light through the years and quick to encourage. Mr. Miller has retired but his legacy will live on in the students he has taught. This was a great year for FFA members. Matt Rassmussen, former NCIP Chairman, presided over the 1998 State FFA Convention. Aaron Nelson, Aaron Nygren, and Amy Rasmussen competed and received awards in State Leadership speaking events. FFA members revitalized the outdoor nature nook - a location behind the Mead Elementary School where the younger set can enjoy learning in a natural environment. FFA Alumni Scholarships sent students to the Washington Leadership Conference. National FFA Vice President Jose Santiago visited and conducted workshops on leadership development and personal skill. FFA members even held a "kiss the pig" fundraiser during Mead Days - the communities annual event held in June. Notice the man kissing the pig? That's our banker, Scott Selko, not only is Scott an active community member, he's also a good sport.

Town Clean up Day: Where else can you drive through town and see the streets, park and other areas of town filled with young people picking up rubbish, manning paint brushes, rakes and other garden tools? Come to Mead for the students day of giving. This spring for one full school day - kids were armed with trash bags and picking up trash along the roads, in the park ... it is truly a site that every parent cherishes - kids cleaning. Not only do the kids look forward to this day, they also help plan the day.

Possible Future Scholarship Opportunities for Youth: Chris Gustafson, former NCIP Chairman is currently a sophomore at UNL. Chris realized the value of young people's contributions to the community and their impact from his experience as an NCIP Chairman. Chris has an idea that he's like to see fulfilled - how about a scholarship based on community service? Chris realized that there are students who may never qualify in the top of their graduating class that is rewarded with academic scholarships or that may not have the chance to be the best athlete on his or her sports team but perhaps has a real passion for community betterment. Shouldn't there be a way to reward those students? Chris began "talking up" his idea and it wasn't long before Chris was doing presentations to Southeast Development District Members and other similar "adult" organizations of professional community development folks from around the state of Nebraska. Chris gained the attention of Doug Gibbs, Nebraska Rural Development Commission (RDC). Chris and Doug will be co-hosting a brainstorming session on August 31, 1999 at 7:00 at the Mead High School to bring together several other organizations with one goal in mind - to develop a scholarship and funding strategy for community service. An excerpt from this Doug Gibbs e-mail sort of sums up the idea, "This needs to be a partnership primarily between the community and school, but also including other organizations involved: the RDC, School at the Center, and, perhaps, the Youth Network of the Development Network - ... and be available to all students, not just the high achievers and that grade point is not a determinant factor in the scholarship or the recognition."

From Chris's e-mail you can see the intent from his eyes, "I began working on the idea of a scholarship based solely on community service hours shortly after I attended a conference that spent a good deal of time talking about the future of small towns and rural Nebraska. As a former student of Mead Public Schools and resident of Mead, I know that getting involved in your town, especially working to improve it, gives a person a sense of ownership and responsibility."

Again, this is a GREAT idea born after Chris was given the opportunity to be a leader in his community and mixed with additional training and networking.

In Summary: Five pages barely does justice to the many activities that Mead Youth have accomplished. They have eagerly attended leadership training both in the NCIP arena but also in FFA, FCCLA, Student Council, Fellowship of Christian Athletes ... They have gone over the top in accepting responsibility for accomplishing tasks and initiating new projects such as the possible Youth Community Service Scholarship Fund. They are supported in their efforts by business leaders, community volunteers, and school staff - all of whom offer suggestions, guidance and support. They are not only willing to learn leadership skills, they are often able to exercise their leadership skills such as when the NCIP Judges come to town or when a project such as the Fall Festival of Colors or Beautification - Native Grasses requires their time and skills. And don't forget three students serve as committee members on Mead's NCIP Committee - Anneke, Amy and Katie. They have served their community proudly this NCIP calendar year as have many students. Hats off to you - Mead Youth!

NCIP Project Action Plan Statement

Community: Mead Name of Project: MY NCIP

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