Get more/do more with your tax refund

It's Earned Income Tax Credit Awareness Day in the U.S. The IRS wants people to know that tax credits are available for low- to moderate- income working individuals and families. In today's economy, a larger refund is particularly welcome. See if you qualify.

Wondering what's the best thing to do with your tax refund? The U of M Extension Service suggests four smart uses:

1. Pay off bills.
2. Save for needs in the coming year. Maybe you know a big bill is on the horizon, or you just want to put something aside as an emergency fund.
3. Save for long-term goals. Think "retirement."
4. Save for special purchases. Need to replace an appliance? A sofa? Use your tax refund to start saving toward it.

Read more and use the handy decision-making worksheet.

Starbuck has big plans for community blog

Members of Starbucks' Horizons Leadership program have launched a community blog, with area residents as the bloggers.

Recent topics include upcoming musical events, the need for licensed child care/foster care, information about home-delivered meals for seniors, invitations to join local groups, and WCI/Valspar's Minnesota Beautiful project. The site also has links to discussions by the Horizons group on poverty, leadership and community awareness.

Blog administrators hope the site will become a valued resource and an informative starting point for the entire county in the fight against poverty.

MSCTC is now M State

It's still Minnesota State Community and Technical College, it's just a lot easier to say. The lengthy "MSCTC" acronym has been changed to "M State." The new "M State" moniker applies to all four campuses of Detroit Lakes, Fergus Falls, Moorhead and Wadena.

Mn/DOT's 20-year transportation plan is available for review/comment

Have you ever wondered how transportation might change in the next 20 years? Now's your chance to find out. The Minnesota Department of Transportation is making its Minnesota Statewide Transportation Plan for years 2009-2028 available for public review and comment.

The plan, “Transforming Minnesota’s Transportation System,” sets a long-range vision for transportation in Minnesota and identifies transportation system needs, goals and priorities for the next 20 years.

There are several opportunities to review and comment on the plan:

• Attend a stakeholder outreach meeting from 9:30 to noon on Thursday, Feb. 5, at West Central Initiative, 1000 Western Ave., Fergus Falls, to hear a brief presentation and view the Minnesota Transportation Policy Plan. To request an ASL interpreter or other reasonable accommodation for this meeting, call 218/846-3609, call the Minnesota Relay Service toll-free at 1-800-627-3529 (TTY, Voice or ASCII) or 711 or e-mail your request to ADArequest@dot.state.mn.us.
  
• Attend a statewide video conference public meeting from 9 a.m. to noon on Thursday, March 26, 2009, at Mn/DOT Detroit Lakes, 1000 Highway 10 West, or Mn/DOT Morris, 610 Highway 9 South (or in a location of your choice, see list attached). An ASL interpreter will be available at this video conference.
  
• Review and comment on the Statewide Transportation http://www.dot.state.mn.us/planning/stateplan/Plan online. To request this document in an alternative format call 651-366-4718 or e-mail ADArequest@dot.state.mn.us.

Paint available for beautification projects through WCI and Valspar

Are you looking for a way to spruce up your community, neighborhood or park? West Central Initiative (WCI) may have a solution, thanks to Valspar’s Minnesota Beautiful (formerly Picture It Painted) program. Through a continued collaborative effort with the Valspar Corporation, paint and coatings will be available in 2009 to communities and public organizations located in the west central Minnesota counties of Becker, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, Pope, Stevens, Traverse and Wilkin to complete a rehabilitation or restoration project.

Paint and other products, including stain and sealant, will be awarded for interior or exterior restoration or beautification projects that best meet the eligibility criteria. Selection will be based on the visual impact of the project, public benefit to the community, local volunteer participation and support, intended use of the building and benefit to the needy.

Projects that qualify include, but are not limited to, historic buildings, senior citizen or handicapped facilities, community centers, public buildings and murals. Projects that are ineligible for the Minnesota Beautiful program include denominational churches, schools, city maintenance or privately owned facilities. Projects outside of WCI’s nine-county service area do not qualify.

Applications are due March 2, 2009 and approved projects will be announced on or after March 25, 2009. Download the Minnesota Beautiful application here.

For more information on the Minnesota Beautiful program, please call Greg Wagner at 1-800-735-2239 or email him at greg@wcif.org. 

Congratulations, Fergus Falls High School Marching Band!

Even as this entry is being written, the Fergus Falls High School Marching Band is standing in formation ready to march in today's inauguration parade in Washington DC.

Just five weeks ago the band found out that they had been chosen to perform in the parade. Since that time, people, organizations and businesses from around the community, the region and the state have helped quickly raise the funds to cover the substantial costs of transporting, housing, caring and feeding this group of talented students.

Students and band directors are keeping loved ones at home in the loop through the use of technology. From the Fergus Falls High School site, people can learn the latest about the band using Twitter, Flickr and FirePin.

Seven tips for tapping volunteer resources during tight financial times

When cash resources are short for nonprofits and government organizations, volunteers count for a lot. Literally. In fact, volunteer time in the U.S. has an estimated economic contribution of $3.4 billion dollars annually. The Minnesota Association for Volunteer Administration offers these tips to maximize the value volunteers bring to organizations to help them survive tight financial times.

1. Maintain the volunteer manager position, even if faced with the need to make cuts. The dollar value he/she brings to the organization is many times his/her salary.

2. Intensify the impact of volunteer recruitment messages by drawing powerful images from media attention about increased needs.

3. Look for new pools of volunteers such as job seekers or people who want give gifts of skills and time because they are less able to give less financially.

4. Assess the organization for new ways volunteers can meet community needs and reduce staff stress.

5. Avoid any perception that volunteers might be used to replace staff.

6. Make sure there are volunteer opportunities that do not require out of pocket costs.

7. Increase your ability to take advantage of opportunities available through use of volunteer talent by ensuring that leaders of volunteers are well trained in the best practices for volunteer management, and by placing the volunteer manager on the management team, if he/she is not already on it.

Read more about capitalizing on volunteer resources.