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Category Archives: Community Efforts

Working together is a BIG DILL for Pickleball

Working together is a BIG DILL for Polson Pickleball
It was a cold chilly day but it was a big dill for the Greater Polson Community Foundation, board members of the Friends of Regional Parks and Trails (FORPAT) and local Pickleball enthusiasts to gather and celebrate recent project milestones. With matching grant funding from GPCF and FORPAT and a donation from Providence St. Joe’s, the City of Polson Parks and Recreation Department completed the 3 courts which included fencing, surfacing and painting.
It was reported in 2017 that there are 2.8 million Pickleball players in the United States – an increase of 12.3% over the previous year. Based on the growing popularity of pickleball in the greater Polson area, there was a clearly a need for public courts dedicated strictly for that use. The past two years, the Mission Valley hosted the Montana Senior Olympics which included Pickleball in Polson as the main draw.
The Greater Polson Community Foundation facilitates and invests the development of a robust and welcoming community and is the mission of the Friends of the Regional Parks and Trails group (FORPAT) to protect, preserve and develop Flathead reservation area parks and trails systems while conserving green space. This is another example of necessary collaborations for the good of our communities.
You can visit www.greaterpolsoncommunityfoundation.org to find out about making a difference in your community or making an online directed gift to one of the many worthwhile projects in our area. If you would like more information about the Pickleball courts project please call Polson City Hall at 883-8200.

 

Lights Under the Big Sky

The GPCF is proud to be a Light Sponsor for the Lights Under the Big Sky Event that opens up on Friday December 7th and runs through Saturday, December 22nd. Create a memorable holiday weekend at Lights Under the Big Sky Event click links below to their website & schedule. Happy Holidays to you & your family from Greater Polson Community Foundation.

https://bigskylights.org/

bigskylights.org/schedule

A Cheery Welcome to Polson

A Cheery Welcome to Polson

The traffic island at the intersection of Highways 93 and 35 received a bright and beautiful upgrade this summer. Twenty big pots of hot pink petunias were placed behind the traditional little rowboat also filled with flowers. Many thanks to Delaney’s Landscaping and Envision Polson Beautification Committee for making this entrance to our community so attractive. The Beautification Committee is funded through directed gifts to the Greater Polson Community Foundation.  This is another beautiful example of how a directed gift of your choice makes a difference in your community.

Mission Valley Live 2018-2019 performances

Missionvalleylive2019

 

file:///C:/Users/GPCF/Pictures/MISSION%20VALLEY%20LIVE/Dolce%20Canto%20Poster.png[16701].pdf

 

Polson Community in Bloom

2018 Polson Community in Bloom poster[14683]2018 Polson Community in Bloom poster[14683]

100% of Polson 2nd Graders Learn to Swim

 

100% of Polson 2nd Graders Learn to Swim

104 second graders have been taught the basics of water safety and swimming in a series of eight lessons at the Mission Valley Aquatics Center this spring. Polson 2nd grade Classroom schedules were adjusted for a two-week period, children were transported to the pool on school buses, and teachers helped with supervision. The director at MVA, says the majority of the kids would now be able to save themselves if they accidently fell in the water. Next spring the same kids will receive another series of eight lessons as 3rd graders and the incoming 2nd graders will start the next two-year project. The Greater Polson Community Foundation made a challenge match of $45,500 to fund the project from 2018 through 2021. Mission Valley Aquatics will raise a growing share of the program funds as it builds community support for the lessons. For more information about the project, to make a donation or find out what Mission Valley Aquatics has to offer, please visit website at:  www.mvaquatics.org  or call (406) 883-4567

~~Polson in Bloom~~ Chamber Flower Baskets ~~

These beautiful blooms are getting the tender love & care they need before they fill downtown Polson & Main street for everyone to enjoy throughout the summer. Thanks to the generosity of hundreds of donors, the Chamber of Commerce in collaboration with GPCF are able to continue a 20 year old tradition that enhances the visual appeal and western welcome to Polson.  It takes approximately $17,000 per year to sustain this project. All the money donated to the Hanging Basket project is a tax deductible contribution and goes directly to purchasing the flower baskets, the expenses it takes to care for them all summer long. If you would like to donate to the Polson Hanging flower basket project, send tax deductible check to GPCF – Box 314, Polson, MT  59860 All support is appreciated.

Local WinterFest showcase future Olympic Broomball

The Mission Valley Ice Arena Association’s second annual WinterFest is scheduled for Saturday, March 3, from 10 am to 2 pm at Polson’s Riverside Park. It’s free and you’re invited to play ten-minute Broom-ball games on the park grounds. “Don’t feel like a full-blown game of Broom-ball? No problem!” Says MVIAA Chair Hilary Lozar. She invites you to participate in easy hockey skill games overseen by local hockey enthusiasts, with equipment for all activities provided by the MVIAA through Greater Polson Community Foundation grants.
Local merchants have donated raffle prizes and ticket sales boost the non-profit MVIAA fund. Prizes include gift certificates for the Red Lion Hotel, MacKenzie River Pizza, and a scenic flight over the Mission Valley, thanks to Blue Goose Aviation. Hot chocolate will be available free of charge, and donations are appreciated.
MVIAA board members and volunteers will be wearing white hockey jerseys and will be available to answer any questions you have about the ice rink project.
“This event is primarily to increase awareness of our ice rink project, as well as spark an interest and love for winter sports, so please, invite anyone you can think of and share this event with your friends and family,” Lozar added.
Parking is available along the street above the park, with easy access down the stairs. Overflow parking may be found along Third Avenue.

Leadership Flathead Reservation

Leadership Flathead Reservation is underway. We had a very successful Opening Retreat at Quinn’s Hot Springs in September and have completed our first session on History and Government. We have a group of 25 men and women, all up and coming leaders in our community. Our next session is on November 17th and will be focusing on the Arts, Culture and Religion. We are thankful to the Greater Polson Community Foundations and it’s donors for helping sponsor scholarships for our future leaders…

A Leadership Development Course for communities located on the Flathead Reservation

Keeping our communities healthy requires insightful leaders who have the ability to communicate and work effectively with others. To this end, many cities and rural counties around Montana provide a year-long leadership development program, ours is sponsored by Lake County Community Development Corporation. The programs are designed to facilitate development and growth of local leaders, provide opportunities to interact with other community members, and explore local relevant issues. The program spans nine months, starting with a retreat in September and eight sessions one day per month from October through May, from 8:00 am to 5 pm.

Mission: In partnership with our community, LFR, provides all participants with opportunities to acquire the knowledge, skills and experience to become involved community leaders.

If you are interested in joining our class beginning in the fall of 2018, watch for updates beginning in January 2018 on our website, https://www.lakecountycdc.org/Leadership_Flathead_Reservation and send in your application.