By Robert Williams

Editor

The Frazee Area Community Club is changing its annual meeting to invite more of the public to attend a presentation on the “State of Frazee.”

“We are expanding the mission and vision of the organization to really focus on how we grow business and the community together,” said Club Vice President Karen Pifher. “The new sponsorship levels will give people the opportunity to invest locally in a way that’s going to put us on the map.”

The event begins with a free will donation baked potato bar at 5 p.m., followed by the meeting, which starts at 6 p.m., at the Event Center.

Proceeds from the potato bar go directly to the Community Club.

“Come and network, hang out and eat some food,” said Pifher. “This year we’re switching it up a little bit. We’re calling it the ‘State of Frazee.’ Part of what that means is we’re going to look at where were we last year with the Community Club? What are all the things that we’ve improved and all of the increases in volunteerism, events, funding, investing in the community?”

There will be multiple speakers at the event.

“You’re going to hear from different people about what they’re doing and different projects,” said Pifher.

Another important topic is where the Community Club and the community are going in the future.

With all the recent changes in Frazee the past two years, this meeting is sure to be a little different than those of the past.

Some of the new things coming include first looks a new Frazee marketing video and a new community club website, 

There will be an informational talk about the relationship between the Frazee Economic Development Authority and Karen Pifher’s company Creating Community Consulting, the EDA City’s consulting firm.

There will be plenty of opportunities for members of the public to engage in the topics speakers select and any other issues of concern.

“There’s a lot to celebrate,” Pifher said.

The Community Club used the 2024 annual meeting to poll residents on what they wanted done in Frazee. 

“There was a list of 20 ideas and we’ve completed, or have in motion, at least eight of them,” said PIfher. ”Of all the things they identified we’ve accomplished a lot already.”

A few of those ideas are a splashpad for kids; pickleball courts, the return of Cabin Fever Days and many more events to the community calendar.

“There is so much happening and it’s really good,” said Pifher.

The club is also adding increased sponsorship levels.

“We hear all the time from people, “Why aren’t you more like Vergas or why aren’t we like this community?” said Pifher.

The bottom line is those community clubs have a major sponsorship level. For instance, Vergas has a $1,000 sponsorship level.

“We’re not going to increase that high this year,” Pifher said.

The club will be offering a $500 sponsorship level.

“At the end of the day, these communities can do this stuff because they have a budget,”said Pifher. “Now, we’re implementing things that we have in place so that we can do good, quality work. We can market well and really invest back in Frazee.”

The Community Club will also give a progress report on Frazee’s businesses, facilities and events. For more information visit: frazeecommunityclub.com

Event details

Date: Thursday, March 20

Supper: 5 p.m. – Baked Potato Bar (Free Will Donation)

Meeting Starts: 6 p.m.

Location: Frazee Event Center