Welcome to the

Burns Flat Community Newsletter

Online Edition of What's Up! in Business Development for Burns Flat

JANUARY 2009

New Beginnings for a New Year!

 

The New Year means resolutions.  Lose weight, quit smoking, read more, get a better job always seem to lead the list of resolutions, but do you know what they all have in common?  They all center around ourselves.  Isn't it time to do something for a cause greater than yourself?  Go ahead and lose the weight or quit smoking.  Those are great resolutions, but take one more step and be a part of your community.  Don't know where to start?  Here are five good places to invest your time and talents for the benefit of many.

 

Join the Chamber of Commerce! If you are reading this letter, it is because of the Burns Flat Chamber of Commerce.  The Chamber wanted to have a means of promulgating community information monthly.  A hometown paper would be great, but for the present, we have the newsletter.  Who makes up the Chamber of Commerce?  Come to their meeting and pot luck dinner on Monday, January 19th  at 6:00 p.m. and find out.  This month's meeting is held at MODA.  Both businesses and individuals may join the Chamber, and this meeting is set aside as a special invitation to those considering joining.

 

One of the advantages of living in a small town is that you can have a very direct impact on that town.  Consider joining the Chamber of Commerce and becoming a part of what we do as a community.

 

Recycle!  Better yet, be a part of the recycling program.  We are behind the power curve in this area, but at the end of 2008, the Chamber formed a recycling committee to investigate all aspects of recycling possibilities for our community.  There are certainly avenues to do this as a service to the community, for profit as an independent business, or in a fund raising role.  Have you been thinking along these lines but haven't acted upon your mental musings?  Take the next step.  Talk with the Recycling Committee members and share your concepts and ideas.  All great journeys begin with that first step.  Talk to Tom Collins, Brian Mooney, or Tom Sander and let's get this ball rolling!

 

Be a Scout Leader!  Our community has a history of producing more than our share of Eagle Scouts.  For scouting to continue, we need scout leaders.  You don't have to have a background as a mountain man or idolize Eull Gibbons to lead these young men.  If you are an adult of good moral character, concerned about the future of our youth, and willing to give faithfully of your time to a longstanding program of skill and character building, then this may be for you.  For more information, talk with Tom Collins at 652-3574 or drop by the Eagle's Nest.

 

Help those less fortunate than yourself!  Have you ever said, somebody ought to do something about that!  Sometimes that somebody is you.  What can I do by myself?  You don't have to take this challenge on alone.  The ministerial alliance is a group of five churches that work together to help people in our community through difficult times.  We will always share our faith and invite those we help to be a part of a church family, but we also help with water and electric bills when a family just needs a little extra money to get back on their feet.  When it takes a lot more than a little cash, the alliance helps with making tough decisions.  Financially, many folks are in over their heads and don't even know where to start.  The alliance is often a starting point.  How can you help?  The alliance helps with a lot of bills.  Send $20 or $100 and all of it will go to help folks in our community.  Are you good with finances?  Volunteer to help struggling families build a budget they can live with.  Need more information.  Come see Tom Spence at the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.  Want to make a donation.  Send it to Ministerial Alliance, PO Box 142, Burns Flat OK 73624.

 

Get to Church!  Yes, get to church.  Wait a minute; I thought that this was a community newsletter not the pulpit parade.  You are right this is a community publication and the church is central to the life of any community.  Do you get tired of the doom and gloom of the evening news?  Come back to the source of Good News.  Do you feel like the economy, the country, even the entire world seems to be going crazy and there is nothing you can do about it?  Then stick to something that you can do something about.  Get to church.  Whatever reason you might have for not being there has a technical term--excuse.  Some sound better than others and we can convince ourselves of anything in our own minds (yes, my 401K will make a 400% return forever with no risk of loss, that job will always be there, sure I can make those house/car/boat payments), but we need to drop the excuses we are using for not being in church.  You are blessed to live in a community where you can just walk in the door on Sunday morning and be welcomed into God's House.  Make 2009 the year that you discard that excuse for not bringing your heart, soul, mind, and strength to church this week and this year.  Make this the year that you come to God and receive His blessings!

 

 

Community Meal held Friday, 2 January 2009 at the Cumberland Presbyterian Church.  If you are hungry, come have a hamburger or hot dog this Friday.  The Cumberland Presbyterian Church is hosting a community meal from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Friday, 2 January 2009.  It's a simple meal, but one you don't have to cook or clean up.  Stop by and enjoy something tasty and some good company.

 

Ministerial Alliance helps over 70 families and over 150 children.  The generosity of the community was exhibited through the Ministerial Alliance last month as each of the five churches, some businesses, and some individuals help provide food and gifts for the less fortunate of our community.  Thank you to all that were a part of this!

 

Chamber Publishes Important Phone Numbers! 

 Jerry Mertz compiled a list of local business, service, and generally useful phone numbers.  Pick one up from your local business or follow the link to the list on the electronic version of this newsletter.  Updates and new information are always appreciated.

 

AA Groups Meet

Newcomers and old-timers welcomed!

New Leaf Group: Tuesdays @ 7pm at the Cumberland Presbyterian Church

Broad Highway Group:  Wednesdays @ 8pm at 310 Pueblo Street.

 

 

 

Got News?

 

  If you have some business, school, government, or information of general interest to the community of Burns Flat, please email it to Tom Spence for consideration to be included in this newsletter.

 

 

What's Happening in our School System?  Check it out!

or follow this link:  http://www.bfdc.k12.ok.us/

 

DIDJANO

Didjano (did you know) that most Fridays at 7:45 a.m. young Christian men and women meet in the High School music room?  The group is called Youth Alive.  They were the group that ran the See You at the Pole event this year.  See You at the Pole was held from 7:30 to 8:00 a.m. at the BF-DC High School on 24 September 2008.  The five churches of the Burns Flat - Dill City Ministerial Alliance are providing supporting services to Youth Alive in accordance with the following schedule.

Oct—Cumberland Presbyterian

Nov--1st Baptist Burns Flat

Dec--Grace Baptist Dill City

Jan--Living Waters 1st Assembly of God

Feb--Dill City Baptist

Mar-May--To Be Determined

 

Follow this link for important dates and updates at the Western Technology Center.

 



http://www.wtc.tec.ok.us  for more information.

 

 

Remember, that you make pick up a hard copy newsletter at Chamber of Commerce businesses and other high traffic locations around town.  Print and online versions vary somewhat based on deadlines, space limitations, and updates provided by community members (updates available online only).

See you next month!