Goals, membership, funding and plans on the rise at annual meeting

By Robert Williams

Outgoing treasurer Daneele Shipman was thanked for her decade-and-a-half of service to the Frazee Community Club during the club’s  annual meeting on Thursday, March 30, at the Event Center.

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“You’ve done a wonderful job,” said Club President Tom Watson.

Shipman gave a short speech on her time as treasurer after joining just after Turkey Days in 2010. That marked the end of the first Tyler Shipman Memorial Car Show.

“I knew that I wanted to continue this in my son’s memory, but really wasn’t sure how to make that successful, make it happen, and I went into Jay’s (Estenson) shop,” said Shipman. “I really didn’t know what to do and she said, ‘You need to go join the community club.’ That’s what I did and here we are 15 years later and it’s been a tremendous learning experience; I’ve made a lot of friends and done a lot of things. It’s been a joyous experience and I’m looking forward to new things. It’s not like you’re going to get rid of me, I’m just chilling out a little bit and changing gears.”

Mayor Mike Sharp opened the meeting by thanking club members in attendance.

“The community club is an important organization in our community and I know a lot of folks think city government can do everything but that is not the case,” Sharp said. “It takes extra people to volunteer their time to put on these community festivals and events. You are all a very important part of our community and from the city’s perspective we appreciate you.”

Outgoing Vice President Karen Pifher shared the majority of the information passed on Thursday night.

“This last year we focused on how do we build up the community club? How do we really improve our impact in the community; think about what it means to keep driving things forward,” Pifher said. 

Pifher echoed Sharp’s sentiments that not one city entity can do the job alone, it takes the combined efforts of the citycouncil, Economic Development Authority and various other committees.

“That does so much for us to take the goals of the city government and the people and drive the city forward,” said Pifher. 

Pifher went over a number of key accomplishments by the club this year, opening with answering requests for more support from local businesses. The club did that in a big improvement of marketing in promoting Frazee and changing its image.

The club and EDA collaborated with businesses to purchase billboards around the county to drive traffic to town. The digital billboards are also frequently updated to showcase upcoming events.

The community club website (www.frazeecommunityclub.com) was updated this year with the help of Kyle Meacham, owner of Minnesota Multimedia, and ongoing updates are being provided by Creating Community Consulting’s (CCC) Jamie Crabtree.

The club also sought the feedback from members and the public on updating the mission and vision statements. There were five choices for each that were voted upon and will be revealed later.

Pifher also discussed the bimonthly Frazee Forward newsletter, that contains information on what is coming up in Frazee, an annual events calendar and highlights of local businesses. A pair of videos of Tom the Turkey’s Gobble Quest promotional videos were shown. The city mascot visits and promotes local businesses and the video production has seen an uptick in quality thanks to a working relationship between CCC and an area company to do unlimited video editing.

“We’re using that opportunity to bring our Gobble Quest to the next level and put together these fun little videos,” said Pifher. “We’re reaching out and scheduling these with our community club sponsors that are business and also doing them for events. It’s a fun way to take about 15 minutes and go out and do them and a fun way to advertise Frazee.”

A YouTube channel is being created to house all the marketing videos.

Pifher then showcased a number of things that were completed in the past year that stemmed from a list of recommendations asked for at last year’s annual meeting. Those priorities include: a splash pad, more winter events, an escape room, park events, more family-friendly events, river events, a natural playground, more club activities. 

“We’ve been able to move forward with about one-third of these,” Pifher said.

Next, was a thank you to all the volunteers that have helped over the past year and how the club is making sure to emphasize volunteer recognition.

“We wouldn’t be anywhere without our volunteers,” said Pifher.

President Tom Watson was highlighted for spearheading the volunteer effort and for the countless hours he puts in daily for the betterment of Frazee.

One of the challenges put to the club in 2024 was more activities, especially for kids. The club introduced Fridays in Frazee, an exhausting effort that paid off in finding ways to streamline the process by scheduling volunteers specific dates to help with even more weekend events this year.

“You’re going to see more lake, biking and river activities,” said Pifher. 

Over 700 youth and 300 different families were served and supported by Fridays in Frazee last summer. 

The club brought back Cabin Fever Days, a full-day of wintertime events in early February.

“We learned a lot about that event, specifically,” said Pifher. 

The club also worked with Event Center Manager Jolene Tappe on a fundraiser to update bathrooms in both the Event Center and Third Crossing.

Pifher gave a brief preview of Turkey Days “The aliens arrive in ‘25” stating it is going to look a little bit different.

Pifher and Crabtree are co-chairs for this year’s event. There are already 28 street vendors, and six food vendors booked, more than last year’s event. 

Pifher detailed the largest alien spaceship building contest on Main Street Saturday with contests ranging from legos to cardboard, lifesize craft large enough to hold Tom the Turkey.

This year’s event kicks off a day earlier, on Wednesday of Turkey Days weekend. The club wants to improve attendance for the beginning of the festival and the early opening coincides with the same night as the Miss Frazee pageant. The opening will be added to the pageant itinerary.

“We want more people to celebrate and kick it off as a community,” said Pifher.

Miss Frazee 2024 Madison Olson spoke about teaming up with Hailey Olson and Annalynn Wallin to bring pickleball courts to Frazee. 

“We’ve got a location secured and now we’re working on getting an estimate and donations,” said Olson. 

Olson is also working on the early stages of planning for the splash pad, which Pifher noted was a three-year and likely $1 million project upon completion. The pad is tentatively slated to be added to Hank Ludtke Park, while the pickleball courts will be on the school campus by the ballfields. The latter has already been approved by the school board.

Olson will also be working on acquiring feedback from younger generations. She was thanked by both Pifher and Watson for being the first youth to be on the community club board.

“The splash pad will be for them so we want to know what they would like,” said Olson. 

Pifher was complimentary of the girls’ effort and willingness to help.

“It’s been really fun watching these kids step up and say they want to get involved and work with them on skill-building like how to raise funds in a community to invest in the things you love and believe in,” she said. 

Watson discussed the downtown mural project and additional signage that will be up around town and an improved kiosk at Wannigan Park. The mural project has met with delays due to having to gain approval by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (DOT), as the property is on a state highway.

Hopes are for the mural project to be completed this summer. Signage including maps to showcase local businesses and points of interest are in the works, along with bike racks donated by Essentia to be placed downtown and at Wannigan Park. The maps were bid out and came back expensive, a cost that was significantly reduced thanks to the assistance of Mayor Sharp, Pifher reported.

“It’s been a wild year,” Watson said. “This is a great time to live in Frazee. We’ve got a lot of stuff going on and it’s a lot of good stuff. It hasn’t been without a few hiccups but with the hiccups you learn and keep going forward.”

This year’s club had 11 board members and 46 total community club members and 31 business sponsors at a $250 level. There were 169 different volunteers at the different events of the past year. 

“We’ve been able to do a lot this year and mostly that’s because we’ve had an increase in people helping out,” said Pifher. 

The club reported 1,082 hours of community service was completed.

“That is not counting Tom (Watson) and Jay (Estenson); if you combine theirs then you’ve probably got about 6,000,” Pifher said.

Arvig was thanked for its contribution to bringing one of Thomas Dambo’s trolls to Frazee. The installation helped bring more than 30,000 visitors to Wannigan Regional Park. 

Pifher discussed the Frazee Community Development Corporation’s (FCDC) plan to utilize their $917,000 grant to continue Wannigan Park improvements. The funds will be allocated July 1. Upon receipt, park guests will see 13 walk-in tent sites with fire rings, a grill, picnic table, umbrellas and a shower and bath house will be added, along with two scenic overlooks.

Planned for 2025:

Paving the multi-use that runs along the west side of the river throughout the park on a one-mile loop that is ADA accessible with an accessible spur to the troll.

Lighting solutions are being examined, along with safety and security for trailer users and campers funded by a DOT grant of $662,880.

A picnic pavilion will be installed funded by a Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR) grant. The shelter will be 16-20 feet with wood beams, and a steel roof and decorative stone at each base. The Detroit Lakes Rotary has helped FCDC with some funding and DL volunteers will be helping at the park this summer. 

On the south side of the bridge will be a kayak launch. 

A natural playground will be added with concrete sidewalks leading to the pavilion.

Upgraded gravel on North River Drive and a new roundabout at the park’s entrance.

As far as infrastructure, two wells, septic and electricity to the restroom and shower house.

“There are so many people who have worked together to help allocate funds and advocate for Frazee to make this happen, so we’re so appreciative of FCDC and all the people who have been involved in that and making it such a great place for us,” said Pifher.

EDA President Heath Peterson spoke a few words about progress from the EDA perspective.

Peterson has been involved with the EDA board since 2007 and noted the addition of Pifher to the EDA has made a big difference.

“I think it shows how one person with a vision can bring a lot,” Peterson said.

The EDA is set on concentrating on downtown, filling empty buildings, bringing in new business and hopefully new buildings. The other focus of the EDA is housing, market rate rentals, affordable and senior housing.

CornerStone Community and Youth Center Executive Director Mackenzie Hamm wrapped up the meeting with a brief update on the Center and the Corner Collective Bistro, Arts & More.

“CornerStone is going well, more kids than we ever thought so that’s exciting,” Hamm said. “Every day is busy and crazy and exciting.” 

Hamm also discussed the opportunity for CornerStone to become a Family Resource Center.

“That’s pretty exciting,” said Hamm. “It’s nationwide; I think it started back in 2011. The research is just showing that Family Resource Centers help prevent out-of-home placement. It helps provide a support person to help allocate resources.”

Hamm and Youth Director Sandy Oelfke discussed the Family Resource Center in detail in a feature story in the Feb. 25 issue of the Forum.

“Be proud that Frazee can be a host for this,” Hamm said.