From The Forest Lake Times
http://forestlaketimes.com/content/view/2439/1/Wyoming mayor plans to get ‘extreme’ for FL Teen Center
Wednesday, 18 February 2009
Cliff BuchanNews Editor
There is no way that anyone will be able to talk down Sheldon Anderson from his self-appointed duty next week.When he is hoisted to the top of the Wyoming City Hall roof on Monday, he plans to stay for the next week, no matter what some of his critics may say. It’s too good of a cause to not want to help, Anderson says.From Monday until Sunday, March 1, Anderson plans to camp on the roof in an effort to raise funds for the ISD 831 Community Education Teen Center program, housed at the Central Learning Center in Forest Lake. It will be Anderson’s second annual “Extreme Fundraising” venture for the teen center program. He raised just under $40,000 in 2008.Now he is planning to do it again, although he has nailed down the time that he will stay on the roof as opposed to last year when he set a target goal of $35,000 that he needed to reach before he would climb down.
Worth the effort
Anderson is convinced that this is a way he can help a worthwhile program and utilize his stature as mayor to help motivate the public to get involved.It wouldn’t be possible if he did not hold the title of mayor, he says, adding that the public would take little interest if some public figure was not involved.He became involved two years ago when he read a newspaper story that told the plight of the teen center. If public funding could not be found, the program was destined to close.Anderson stepped in and helped save the program. This year his efforts will be equally important and a way to add dollars to buy needed equipment, art supplies and computer center time.By crawling up on the roof, Anderson hopes he will once again draw attention to the needs of the Community Education program.“I’m going to do everything I can to help keep the awareness up of the good that this program does for kids,” he said.He believes the program truly gives junior high school kids a safe and supervised place to go after school ends for the day.“Some of them don’t want to go home,” he says. “It gives kids a safe place to go after school.”What could be better for kids, he asks? Having a safe and supervised place to go and study and interact with other teens, or be out on the streets, possibly putting their time and energy into less than desirable activities?“That’s why I do it,” he says. “That’s my motivation. Helping our kids is worth everything.”
In its 6th year
Now in its sixth year, ISD 831 officials are hoping to find support to keep it going for a seventh year.The program is free to junior high students Monday through Thursday during the school year.Julie Ohman, director of community education, said this week the program provides “a valuable service for teens, families and the community.”Without the help of community members like Anderson, businesses, organizations and individuals who donate, it would not be possible for the program to continue, she said.“During the past six years, the Teen Center has been able to remain open only through the generous financial support of area residents and businesses,” Ohman said.“We hope to continue to provide this safe, supervised after-school program for youth. With Mayor Anderson’s efforts and the public’s generous support and encouragement, the Forest Lake Area Teen Center will continue to give youth a safe, supervised place to belong.”
Not discouraged
Anderson says criticism from within Wyoming has in no way discouraged him from offering his help to the program. Wyoming’s help for the program was questioned during a debate over city funding of a rain garden project at Giese Memorial Library. The city council voted against funding $10,000.Anderson says he hopes that the subtle pitting of a library program against a teen program will motivate the public to help. He says it is unfortunate that prior to the rain garden funding denial, no opposition was heard for the teen center or the Lakes Area Youth Service Bureau of Forest lake which has been regularly funded by the city of Wyoming.Anderson said the council was criticized for using charitable gambling proceeds for the center in 2008, and not the library project in 2009.“It’s a shame that they [opposition] brought in politics and pitting one thing against a good organization,” he said. “They are making it sound like it’s the mayor’s pool of money. It’s just not true.”Anderson said he believes many in the community support his efforts. “People are supportive of the teen center and they think it is a positive.”Anderson says he can’t apologize for the fact the center is in Forest Lake, not Wyoming. “That’s where our kids go to school. If I win the lottery, I’d build one in Wyoming.”
How to help?
There will be several ways to help in the drive.Contributions can be made online to a web page set up to follow the mayor’s week-long stay on the roof. Safe and secure tax-deductible donations can be made to www.extremefundraising.blogspot.com.Donations can also be made through ISD 831 Community Education, or directly at the Wyoming Community Center during the drive. For more information, call 651-982-8334.
The week-long drive will begin at 3 p.m. on Monday.
