5/17/2006 – News
Volume 123, Number 15
Minnewaukan native serves on ministerial association
Editor’s note: This article concerns the Gregory Ministerial Association, of which Minnewaukan native Pastor Jeff Wallace is president. Gregory is a town of about 1,400 in south central South Dakota. Pastor Wallace is the son of Liz Matthews of Minnewaukan.
BY MONA TAGGART
Gregory (SD) Advocate
Sometimes life can throw you into a financial situation and you may need just a little help to get back onto your feet, or someone who has nowhere to live may be passing through town that may need a night’s rest and a meal. These individuals can find the help they need through the Gregory Ministerial Association.
The association is comprised of all the ministers residing in Gregory, including Pastor Scott McClellen, Berean Fundamental Church; Pastor Allen Bouslaugh, Assembly of God Church; Pastor Russ Grim, First Southern Baptist Church; Pastor Albert Althoff, St. John’s Lutheran Church; Father Ed Vanorny, St. Joseph’s Catholic Church; Pastor Jeff Wallace, Union Congregational Church; and Pastor Royal Archer of the United Methodist Church.
Pastor Jeff Wallace currently serves as president. Treasurer is Father Ed Vanorny and Pastor Allen Bouslaugh serves as secretary.
Their statement of purpose is to foster Christian fellowship among area ministers, coordinate joint activities of the community churches and nurture the spiritual environment of the community.
Because of its transitory nature, members determine the meeting frequency and joint programming as they see fit. Members also execute financial policies and programs as deemed appropriate.
The Ministerial Association Aid Fund is for emergency purposes only.
It is not intended to supplement living standards or to satisfy needs peripheral to basic survival and can be granted on a twice-a-year basis maximum, per family.
A voucher system has been established for payment to local businesses for aid received. The vouchers are issued by a minister under guidelines and all vouchers must be signed by a minister and a law enforcement officer.
Groceries are available from the Gregory County Food Pantry located in Gregory at the Episcopal Church. However, the Gregory Ministerial Association will provide families with up to $15 in perishable groceries per voucher from a local store.
Medical treatment is available through hospital-funded charities, and therefore should not be directed to the association.
Up to $20 for automobile fuel and up to 20 gallons of heating fuel may be granted in cases of emergency.
Up to $15 per meal is granted at local cafes and restaurants and one night’s lodging is available at local motels. "We try and encourage those in need of a meal to go to the grocery stores and buy more to last them longer," stated Pastor Wallace.
The association does not disperse cash without a majority consent of the association members and all persons should be referred to the local police department, especially transients.
The president of the association plans and conducts monthly ministerial meetings. The meetings are held May through September at Avera Gregory Healthcare Center on the first Thursday of the month.
The president of the association is also a representative on the Golden Age Meals Board and offers invocation and benediction at the Gregory High School commencement, subject to the students’ wishes.
The ministers serve as a liaisons between community and school.
The treasurer collects the mail, deposits all receipts, pays the bills in a prompt manner, accounts to the Ministerial Association monthly regarding receipts, expenses and checking balance, and offers the address at the Gregory High School baccalaureate.
The secretary records the minutes of their monthly meetings, sends minutes with a reminder of the next meeting, sends out scheduling of services sponsored by the Gregory Ministerial Association and offers invocation and benediction at the Gregory High School baccalaureate and eighth grade graduation.
Offices are held for a term of one year and are rotated among the participating Gregory community churches. The treasurer moves to the presidency, the secretary into the treasurer position and the next church in line moves to the secretarial position.
The clergy get together every Wednesday morning as a support group for each other at Stukel’s Corner Cafe for breakfast. Even though their doctrines differ, they set that aside, share problems, offer each other support and work together.
"As the spiritual leadership of the community we try and get together. We’re not in competition," advised Pastor Wallace.
"We’re all concerned about the spiritual issues and needs of our community. We see all the positive and negative things," stated Pastor Bouslaugh.
Pastor Wallace added, "This community is pretty big, and spiritually speaking, I think there’s about 60 percent of the people who are unchurched. We’re aware of that and it takes different types. Some can minister more effectively based on personalities and backgrounds.
We’re trying to reach the unchurched. Some get out of the habit and it’s hard to get them back once they get out of it."
He went on to explain, "Communities are not like they used to be.
Church was a big social thing that everyone wanted to do. Now it’s rush, rush, rush and everybody has something they want to do on Sundays," Pastor Wallace said.
Pastor McClellen advised, "Those who are shut-ins and can’t get out are so appreciative of the visits they receive from us. We do hospital visits not only here in Gregory, but in Sioux Falls, or wherever they may be."
They also advised that if there is an elderly individual who can’t get out or shovel snow, the association is willing to come to aid them or find someone to help. They should call their pastor and they will take care of the matter. "We just want to help the community," stated Pastor Wallace.
The clergy in Gregory will cover for each other in cases of death or accident if the pastor of the family is out of town, for instance.
They are not trying to convert each other’s parishioners, they are just trying to lend support to those in need in their time of grief.
They provide worship services on a rotation schedule at Silver Threads, TLC and Avera Rosebud Country Care Center.
"We’re in the process of getting some extra training in chaplaincy the first of January," stated Pastor Wallace.
The group now offers ministry at the nursing home on Sundays. Whoever serves as clergy for that Sunday also serves as the volunteer minister at the hospital for that week. Sometimes they get confused on their times to serve and one might forget to show. Pastor Bouslaugh laughed, "Sometimes we have two show up."
The ministers also take turns to write the message for the church page in the Advocate each week.
Pastor McClellen stated, "In a community like this it is inevitable that you know everyone in your congregation, which is unusual for some towns, since some are so large and you don’t get to know them intimately, you might know their names, but you don’t know where they live or what their activities are, what they’re like. There is a certain amount of overlap here. We bump into each other’s people sometimes and it’s refreshing to be friendly with those folks and make contacts."
"Every year the Kotrbas, Emmett and Jeannie, invite us over for a Christmas meal. We’ve kind of actually moved it to January. This year it’s the 20th (January) at their house. It’s our Christmas celebration," noted Pastor Wallace.
"We’re helping sponsor the Continental Singers. We help travelers and people who are low on things. We try and direct them to other sources because we don’t have a lot of funds to spare," advised Pastor Wallace.
The association relies mainly on love offerings from the churches.
There are no dues. Pastor McClellen said, "We sponsor events. The Thanksgiving dinner was held at the Berean Church this year and we passed the plate and raised a couple hundred dollars."
"We also sponsor a quarterly singspiration and when we have a fifth Sunday, the offerings from that go to the association," added Pastor Bouslaugh.
The association will accept donations from citizens and organizations. Those interested in donating may contact the pastors at their respective churches.
Members of the Gregory, SD Ministerial Association are pictured at one of their meetings. Left to right are Pastor Allen Bouslaugh (Assembly of God), Pastor Albert Althoff (Lutheran), Pastor Scott McClellen (Berean), Father Ed Vanorny (Catholic) and Minnewaukan native Pastor Jeff Wallace (Congregational). Not pictured are Pastor Royal Archer (Methodist) and Pastor Russ Grim (Baptist). The association provides temporary care for those in need. Gregory Advocate photo.
New sign for Legion
The Gunnerud-Dietrich American Legion Post 86 of Minnewaukan erected a sign last week noting that the park between the American Legion building on the west and the Minnewaukan Museum Annex (former Butterwick-Hiaasen Law Office) on the east is designated the Legion Park. Left to right are Mark Motis of Minnewaukan, a member of Legion Post 86, who was instrumental in promoting the sign and obtaining funds for it, and Mandy Thomas and George Zenk of First American Advertising of Devils Lake, which manufactured and placed the sign.
Schmid earns DVM degree
The Washington State University College of Veterinary Medicine awarded Jacqueline S. Schmid the degree of Doctor of Veterinary Medicine at the commencement ceremony held May 6 in Pullman, Wash.
Dr. Schmid was one of 72 candidates receiving degrees.
She is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Schmid Sr. of Minnewaukan and a graduate of Minnewaukan High School. She received her undergraduate degree in geological engineering from UND. After a 15-year career in engineering she pursued her lifelong dream of becoming a veterinarian.
To earn the DVM degree, students must first meet the requirements for admission and apply to one of 27 colleges in the US. Each school receives well over 600 applications to fill roughly 100 positions.
Once admitted to the WSU College of Veterinary Medicine, the students are required to successfully complete three years of didactic training and one year of clinics to be a candidate for the DVM degree.
Leeds Students of Quarter
The Leeds School announces its Students of the Quarter for the fourth quarter of the school year. Students are selected for this honor based on academic performance, cooperation, personal behavior, attendance, responsibility and school spirit. Left to right, back row, are junior Whitney Streyle, daughter of Keith and Jo Streyle; freshman Denage Braaten, daughter of Joel and Carol Braaten; and senior Brittnee Tarang, daughter of Larry and Jill Tarang. Front row: seventh grader Michael Urness, son of Kevin and Tammy Urness; eighth grader Hannah Anderson, daughter of Duane and Lisa Anderson; and sophomore Dallas Johnson, daughter of Richard and Roxanne Johnson.
Poppies on sale
Maddock Mayor Kevin Winson, right, receives the first poppy of the year from Theo. A. Togstad Legion Auxiliary poppy chairman Mercedes Motschenbacher. The local Girl Scout troop will distribute poppies door-to-door on Monday, May 22.
Maddock students celebrate Arbor Day May 5
Elementary students at the Maddock School celebrated Arbor Day on Friday, May 5. Jim Gilbertson, Mayor Kevin Winson, Rolf Berg and Marjorie Rice spoke about the importance of planting trees. Students in grades two through six competed in a poster contest with the theme "What Trees Do For Us." Mayor Winson gave each of the poster contest winners an award and told everyone that the posters would be displayed around town.
Earlier in the week, a couple trees in front of the school had been pulled up because of disease. Mr. Gilbertson explained why the trees had been pulled up and that the students were going to help plant new trees in their place. After this program, the fourth, fifth and sixth graders went outside and helped plant four flowering crab trees in front of the building. The students will be able to come to the school years after they graduate and know that they helped plant those trees.
Fourth graders plant a tree. Left to right are Zane Paulson (back), Renae Lauinger (in coat), Shawn Aabrekke (with shovel), Kelsey Smith (kneeling), Shelby Brandvold (standing) and Alecz Hill (kneeling).
Fifth graders helping plant a tree are, left to right, Erik Broten, Jaden Kallenbach, D.J. Yri, Savana Nystrom, Chelsey Weigler, Jim Gilbertson and Zach Eyl.
Sixth graders shown are, left to right, front row, Breana Buehler, Morgan Duren, Justyn Armentrout, Matthew Aabrekke and Dylan Gigstad. Back row: Karen Mitzel, James Johnson, Zach Johnson and Jenae Johnson.
Sixth graders shown are Kirby Kallenbach, sitting, and standing, left to right, are Kristen Smith, Karl Kenner, Kayla Karlsbraaten, Trevor Knutson, Matt Knudson, Michael Lunde, Gabby Rehling and Megan Lauinger.
Award winners are shown. Left to right, front row, are Nora Duren (second place), Michelle Brandvold (third place), Natalia Wright (first), Kaylee Tollerud (third) and Alexis Gigstad (second). Back row: Dylan Lauinger (first), James Johnson (third), Carah Hestdalen (second) and Chelsey Weigler (first).
LRSC graduates first class of nurses May 12
At Lake Region State College (LRSC) in Devils Lake, students and faculty are celebrating a first for the college. The first class of ADNs (Associate Degree Nurses) graduated May 12 at LRSC. An ADN is a two-year registered nurse.
The one-year practical nurse and two-year registered nurse programs are the result of a change in education requirements for nurses enacted by the 2003 ND Legislature. Prior to this change in legislation, North Dakota was the only state requiring registered nurses to hold a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). The change in registered nursing also created a change in practical nursing, which is now a one-year certificate program.
In response to the Nursing Needs Study and the change in legislation, the Dakota Nursing Program was initiated to provide nursing education at the practical nursing certificate and associate degree RN level in North Dakota. It is a partnership between Williston State College, Bismarck State College, Minot State University – Bottineau and Lake Region State College. The colleges’ history of close-knit collaboration allowed them to respond to these changes in a quick, efficient manner.
"We cannot say enough how proud we are of this group of students,"
said Pamela Pranke, LRSC nursing coordinator. "Everywhere they go for clinicals we hear what fantastic students we have and how pleased everyone is with the nursing program. Reality far exceeds our expectations."
The students have been involved outside of the classroom helping with community events, including a first-annual Health and Wellness Fair that boasted high attendance from the region.
And the students aren’t the only ones celebrating. Both Pranke and nursing instructor Julie Traynor recently were published in educational manuals. Traynor was published in a pharmacology manual to accompany a textbook and Pranke’s is a manual on integrating concepts of interpersonal violence into the nursing curriculum.
Lake Region State College nursing graduates and faculty are pictured. Left to right, back row, are Colette Lyman of Carrington, Amanda Haugen of Cando, Mark Kersteins of Larimore, Tanya Warner of Casselton, and faculty member Julie Traynor of Devils Lake. Middle row: Laurie McGlone of Devils Lake, Brynn Bowman of Leeds, Merrie Nass of Devils Lake and Lauree Wangler of Leeds. Front row: Pamela Pranke, LRSC nursing coordinator, Chantelle Beauchamp of Devils Lake, Michelle Hoffman of Langdon and Nikki Wilkes of Rock Lake.