People at Tampa find out working together builds community
Contributing writer
Anyone who has kept his eyes open has seen quite a lot of action in the tiny town of Tampa in the past four or five years. Much of it has been instigated by the Tampa Community Association. This organization, established in the summer of 2003, was the brainchild of Carole Spohn, who had just retired from her job as a nurse's aide at Parkside Homes and was ready to become more involved in community activities.
"It started with a thought of mine," said Spohn. "I kept thinking about some things I wished 'someone' would do. Then I read an article saying if you think that often, maybe you should be the one."
Spohn called a meeting to gauge interest in the community, and a number of people signed on to become the Tampa Community Association. The TCA, of course, has not accomplished all the projects of the past few years single-handedly. It has cooperated with other civic groups such as the Lions Club and Leos, Prairie Pals, Sunflower Senior Citizens, the Tampa Triple T's 4-H Club, and community-minded individuals who do not care to be joiners, but want to be doers.
Big events which the TCA and the Lions put together in 2006 and 2007 were the coed softball tournaments. Proceeds from the tournaments helped build the restrooms at the ball diamond and fund improvements at the city park. Prairie Pals also donated proceeds from their ice cream social to the restroom project.
The annual Santa Fe Trail Fest is primarily a TCA endeavor, but the senior citizens and Prairie Pals have helped. Of course, in a town the size of Tampa the membership in all these organizations overlap.
The community association has helped the 4-H club with their mini-fairs, and the 4-H has donated money to paint the windows in the derelict buildings on Main Street.
Many TCA efforts are designed to encourage socialization in the community. The SFT Fest is a great opportunity for residents of the area to come together for food entertainment and a lot of visiting.
Last summer free movies were shown on Main Street, another chance to meet and greet neighbors and friends.
In the winter the association sponsors a fun night the first Sunday evening of each month. In January the Leos sponsored a soup supper ahead of the game time, which drew in a larger attendance, another example of cooperation between community groups.
In December TCA cooperated with the Lions to have a community Christmas party.
Some efforts to better the community have been more successful than others, but all have served a good purpose. The TCA organized efforts to keep a post office in Tampa. Although these efforts were unsuccessful, Spohn feels that they encouraged community solidarity.
"Everybody pulled together," she said.
One particularly exciting project was a people exchange arranged with Tampa, Fla., a few years ago. A Florida radio station sponsored a contest with the winner being awarded a weekend in Tampa, Kan. Two young women enjoyed Tampa's country hospitality, while Mayor Jim Clemmer and his wife Mary went to Tampa, Fla.
The TCA had a lot of help from others in the community for that event. Seemingly, a good time was had by all. About the same time TCA helped arrange a series of well-attended meetings to discuss the potential for agricultural tourism in this area.
Other TCA events have included a Christmas lighting contest, a float in Hillsboro's Christmas parade, children's Mother's Day and Father's Day essay contests, Veterans Day coffees, and participation in Scarecrows on Parade.
A neighborly spirit always has been alive and well in Tampa. Any TCA member would tell you they are not responsible for that. A group with no connection to TCA turned out in force to help residents clean up after the recent ice storm. A number of people who are not officially members of TCA volunteered to work on the restroom project and the park improvements.
Spohn sees the TCA's role as helping to organize and channel the kind of community service many residents already are doing. She recognizes the importance of organizing activities which bring neighbors together.
TCA can be justifiably proud of its accomplishments over its five-year history, but Spohn has hopes and dreams for the future. Along with other Tampa residents she wishes something could be done with Main Street, but without the cooperation of an absentee owner it is unclear how much progress will be possible.
A joint meeting of the TCA and the Lions Club is scheduled for Thursday evening to explore possibilities for the future. A representative of PRIDE will speak to the group.
"It's good to have traditions," said Spohn, "but we also need new ideas. I hope we can expand on our traditions and draw in some new people and develop some new ideas in 2008."
