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Extreme measures to help teen center |
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Wednesday, 30 January 2008 |
Jennifer Larson
Times Staff Writer
The countdown to Saturday, Feb. 2 has begun for Sheldon Anderson, mayor of the City of Wyoming, who will be braving Minnesota’s frigid temps to come up with cold hard cash for the Forest Lake Teen Center.
At 12 p.m., Anderson will take to his perch on the roof of Wyoming City Hall until $35,000 is raised to help keep the financially strapped teen center open and operating. Anderson will step onto solid ground and out of the elements once that goal has been met.
“I’m doing it to see that the place doesn’t go extinct,” he said.
Anderson noted that according to the National Weather Service, the dates for the fund raiser fall within the time frame of Minnesota’s most extreme winter weather conditions. When told on Monday that there is a good chance of snow flurries accompanying the arctic cold front headed our way, Anderson anxiously rubbed his hands together.
“Good, I hope so,” he said with a grin.
Although some may be questioning Anderson’s sanity, he believes whole-heartedly what’s really crazy is shutting down the teen center that has a proven track record of keeping kids out of trouble and on the right path.
Special interest
Unlike youth in the Forest Lake area, Anderson didn’t have a teen center where he could go after school. Becoming Mayor of Wyoming didn’t come fast or easy for him.
Now the owner of a private investigation/security business in St. Paul, Anderson received his GED after dropping out of high school in the 11th grade. Without a supportive family he fell into a world of dangerous behavior.
While in office, Anderson wants to make sure area teens have the opportunity he didn’t. Justice Department statistics show the hours from 3-6 p.m. are prime times for problems if kids are unsupervised and unengaged in organized activities.
“I think it’s a good program,” he said.
Operated by Forest Lake Schools Community Education Youth Development Program, it relies solely on grants and donations since it does not charge a participation fee. The five-year-old teen center is a free, supervised, drop-in facility that provides educational and enrichment programs for middle school students. At least $20,000 is needed annually to run the center weekdays all year long.
The city of Wyoming and Wyoming Township stepped in and saved the center last summer with contributions totaling nearly $10,000. Anderson recently asked city council members from surrounding communities to help keep it afloat this year and next. And when that didn’t’ work, he decided to restore to this extreme fund raising effort.
Supporters
“He’s such a teen center champion,” said Youth Development Coordinator Kathy Bystrom.
Councilman Blake Tiedeman believes Anderson’s out-of-the-box thinking is good for government. He said that residents are always being hit up for donations. Tiedeman hopes that Anderson’s freeze out will draw attention to the importance of the teen center so the community is aware of its impact.
“I think it’s an awesome idea,” he said.
Having known Anderson for over 10 years, his latest endeavor didn’t come as a shock to Tiedeman. The mayor is a tenacious man, he said.
“It doesn’t surprise me that he tackled it like an opportunity,” Tiedeman said.
Anderson set the monetary target higher than what is actually needed to operate so there would be money for improvements like new pool tables. To try and prevent a cash shortfall in 2009, he said they will be working on increasing the donation list and ask current donors to keep giving.
Staying warm this weekend could prove difficult for Anderson if the weather worsens as forecasted. He will be outfitted in gear and supplies donated by Gander Mountain. The mega store’s slogan is “We live outdoor” so Anderson should have no worries nestled under his sleeping bag.
“I kept my hunting beard,” he said.
The Wyoming Shell is donating propane for the heater. Meals will be provided by local eateries – The Nesting Grounds will serve lunch and Tasty Asian Take Out will prepare dinner.
“Everything will be done up there,” Anderson said.
The only access to the rooftop is a hydraulic lift.
On Friday, Anderson will assist city maintenance workers pitch his tent. While he is very confident those funds will be raised, it’s just a matter of how long it takes. Time is something Anderson will have plenty of in the days to come.
He will come down from the post briefly for approximately 15 minutes on “Super Tuesday” Feb. 5 to check-in at the voting precinct for the Minnesota caucuses.
“I’ll raise the money,” Anderson said. “I’m not concerned with how long it will take.”
Anderson, who will update the public daily on his blog www.extremefundraising.blogspot.com/, hopes the freezing temperatures will encourage people to donate quickly to the teen center.
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