Community briefs

Whitefish Community Foundation hosts nonprofit board development workshops

Whitefish Community Foundation will host a two-part board development workshop series with nonprofit consultant Ned Cooney Oct. 13 and Nov. 10. The series is part of the foundation’s Nonprofit Development Partnership program and is offered free of charge to participants.

Part one of the series is “Intentional Recruitment and Expectation Setting.” The workshop will focus on the “who and how” of identifying, inviting, screening and on-boarding new board members. Participants will learn about frameworks and tools for planning and expectation-setting, and the importance of a clear policy to guide everyone’s actions in recruiting others.

Part two of the series is “Focused Meetings to Streamline Board Governance.” The workshop will cover best practices for agenda creation, preparation, decision making, delegation and follow-up.

Both workshops are offered online only from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Advance registration is required at whitefishcommunityfoundation.org/nonprofit-trainings. Although the workshops are designed to complement each other, it is not necessary to attend both.

Cooney has provided training and consulting for nonprofits organizations since 2005. He is a former member and chair of Montana Nonprofit Association's (MNA) board of directors and has served as a member of MNA’s Nonprofit Public Policy Council since 2006. He serves as adjunct faculty in nonprofit topics at Flathead Valley Community College, and formerly taught in the Nonprofit Management Certificate program at University of California, Riverside.

Whitefish Community Foundation offers professional development training and networking opportunities for nonprofit employees and volunteers as part of the organization’s work to strengthen local nonprofits to excel in governance. The Dennis and Phyllis Washington Foundation is a sponsor of the Nonprofit Development Partnership program, partnering with Whitefish Community Foundation to bring quality nonprofit training to local nonprofits free of charge.

For more information about the work of Whitefish Community Foundation, visit whitefishcommunityfoundation.org.

Creston Soup for Supper

The Friends of Creston Fire’s 15th annual Soup for Supper fundraiser will take place Saturday, Oct. 22, at the Lake Blaine Fire Station.

Local businesses, organizations and groups are invited to sponsor individual soups at the event for $100 per soup. All donations are tax deductible and checks must be received by Oct. 17. To become a sponsor, mail your check to Creston Fire, 4498 Montana 35, Kalispell, MT 59901 (write S4S in the memo area along with business/group name).

The names of the soup sponsors are displayed at Soup for Supper, so being a sponsor is a great way to let the community know about your support for Creston Fire.

The event has grown each year to feed more than 650 people and raises more than $10,000 annually for Creston Fire through soup sponsorship and donations. After offsetting costs, the money raised will go directly to

the building fund for replacement station 251 on Montana 35.

To participate in this fundraiser, come down to the Lake Blaine Fire Station between 3:30 and 7 p.m.; drive-thru and carry out only; there’s no charge, but donations are appreciated.

For more information, call 406-250-9457.

Harvest Dinner in Polson

The Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, located at 409 Fourth Ave. E., Polson, will hold its 52nd annual Harvest Dinner Tuesday, Oct. 18, for take out only.

The menu includes Swedish meatballs, potatoes and gravy, green beans, coleslaw, a roll and pumpkin pie. Homemade lefse will be available for sale as well.

Call in ahead at 406-883-5864 to place an order. Dinners may be picked up between 4 and 6 p.m. Oct. 18. Dinner is $12 each — the church keeps prices reasonable because this dinner is a mission/outreach to the community and donations are always welcome. Proceeds will benefit the Red Cross Montana Disaster Relief and Polson Loaves and Fishes.

Science Quencher Oct. 14

The Whitefish Lake Institute’s next Science Quencher presentation will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday, Oct. 14, in the Regatta Room at The Lodge at Whitefish Lake.

Speakers include:

• Chris Downs- aquatic and physical science programs manager, Glacier National Park

• Emilie Henry - nonpoint source coordinator, Flathead Basin Commission

• Nanette Nelson - research economist, Flathead Lake Biological Station

• John Fraley - local author and retired Fish, Wildlife and Parks biologist

and outreach officer whose books will be available to purchase.

Complimentary beer, wine and appetizers will be served.

Flathead Audubon presentation

Flathead Audubon meets Monday, Oct. 10, from 7 to 9 p.m. in Room 26 of the Gateway Community Center building in Kalispell.

Josh Covill will talk about birding in Costa Rica. He will touch on the country’s biodiversity, where to go, what to look for and how to plan your own visit. Costa Rica is home to over 800 bird species.

If you want to join the meeting virtually, email info@flatheadaudubon.com for information.

Additional information can be found at www.flatheadaudubon.org.

The program is free and open to the public.

My Glacier Village holds mobile feast fundraiser

My Glacier Village, a local nonprofit serving area seniors, is hosting a community fundraiser, “The Sip & Sample Autumn Stroll,” a mobile feast featuring signature drinks and sample plates of culinary delights at seven different dining and drinking establishments in downtown Kalispell from 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 22.

Participating venues are Alchemy, Bias Brewing, Brannigans, KM Bar, Mercantile Steakhouse, MontaVino and Sweet Peaks Ice Cream. Ticket holders will receive a commemorative drinking glass and a Tasting Passport when they arrive at the registration table (which will be located in the parking lot behind Glacier Bank’s Main Street location). Montana Trolley Company will also be providing step-on/step-off trolley service in a continuous loop during the event. Strollers who visit all seven venues during the afternoon will be eligible for a prize drawing by turning in their Tasting Passport at their last stop.

My Glacier Village is a local chapter of the nationwide Village to Village Network, a grassroots organization built for seniors, by seniors, and celebrating its third year of connecting, inspiring and supporting seniors in the Flathead Valley. The organization’s mission of enriching lives and combatting senior isolation by providing the connections, educatio, and support services that seniors need to age confidently in their own homes is bringing about social change that redefines what it means to age.

Since 2019, My Glacier Village has been hosting regular monthly events such as social hours and game days to allow members and volunteers to connect on a regular basis. They also host a monthly outing, education or activity such as writing classes, rafting, archery, kayaking, walking, painting and more. Then, when members need help with things like rides to appointments, help with groceries, small home repairs, or just getting the fitted sheets back on the beds they rely on these new peers for support. Members and volunteers believe they are better together and want to age in a way that makes others look forward to growing older.

Early Bird Tickets for the Sip & Sample Autumn Stroll are $45 (purchased prior to Oct. 10) and $50 after that date. Tickets can be purchased at each of the seven participating venues, by calling the My Glacier Village office at 406-250-8784, or by visiting www.myglaciervillage.com/events/710 for purchase directly online.

For questions about the event, contact Mary Wallace, volunteer fundraising coordinator, at 406-261-7253 or via email at maryw@myglaciervillage.com