Milton-Freewater Rotary Club President-Elect Shane Abell told fellow members about the President-Elect Training Session he attended in Seattle Feb. 14-16.
About 700 Rotarians from nine Rotary districts were on hand to hear speakers on a variety of subjects. They received new Rotary pins, one of which Shane presented to President Jon Lieuallen.
Guest speaker Alina Launchbaugh, Milton-Freewater Downtown Alliance program director, talked about her work with the organization she joined through AmeriCorps in September 2012. She will complete her term in July.
The Alliance strives to offer a positive climate for new business with improvements in infrastructure and increased promotion. It assists the community in developing a strong business environment and historic preservation. It intends to revitalize the downtown area to make it more prosperous and attractive to tourists and the community.
The Alliance is a member of the National Main Street and Oregon Main Street programs, which work with towns to improve their communities, encourage tourism, the business climate and historic preservation.
Much of the focus in Milton-Freewater has been on North and South Main Street. The area added new awnings and remodeled store fronts through Urban Redevelopment Authority grants to improve the appearance and attract more business activity there. A Board of Directors is very active in promoting the downtown districts of Milton-Freewater.
A Pathways to Community Vitality Program Moving to Action meeting held all day Saturday looked at creating an activity center and a website to feature updates and communication for the community. Board members are Norm Saager, president; Rick Rambo, vice president; Jesse Maxwell, treasurer; Julie Culjak, secretary; Judy Chesnut, Mari Meza, Paul Seaquist, David Shannon, Mike Watkins and Rob Clark. For more details, contact Alina at 541-938-4265 and online see www.mfdowntown.org/
Originally Published in Walla Walla Union-Bulletin
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