Veterans memorial joining Community Foundation

Holcombe Area Veterans Memorial treasurer Mary Ann Van Treese reported the annual motorcycle ride fundraiser held in June, was a success, bringing in $7,675, during a planning committee meeting July 20. The breakfast, held in conjunction with the ride, also brought in $475 for the meditation garden. Photo by Julia Wolf

By Julia Wolf

Efforts for the Holcombe Area Veterans Memorial to join the Community Foundation of Chippewa County, took a step in a positive direction, as the Memorial Planning Committee heard, during a regular meeting July 20.

“We signed the paperwork,” said Jim Mataczynski, committee chairperson.

He says they are just waiting for one person to sign the paperwork on the foundation end, which is expected to happen the following week, then the memorial’s membership at the foundation will be official. Mataczynski says, after that, the memorial will be able to use the foundation’s 501(c) (3) number, for fundraising. The memorial also recently opened an account with the investment firm the foundation uses.

Money raised through normal donations or local fundraisers will continue to go into the veterans memorial’s checkbook with the Town of Lake Holcombe.

“That’ll help us keep up with maintenance and bills,” said Mataczynski.

The larger monies solicited through the Campaign Committee will go to the foundation and the foundation will act as the money managers for the memorial.

Mataczynski also reported the Campaign Committee met, to work on the larger scale fundraiser efforts. He says the committee has a list of local, state and national donors they intend to approach for donations.

Site work is also continuing. Mataczynski says he met with the contractors and discussed the next action steps.

“They’re all three up to their eyeballs in work right now, so don’t look too hard for something to happen right away,” said Mataczynski. “But, it’s on their mind.”

Mataczynski says he also got a call from the flag pole company, wondering when the flag installation will take place. They were also added to the conversation with the other contractors.

“I had diggers hotline come out,” said Mataczynski, adding they are still waiting on Brightspeed to locate their lines and determine how deep they are.

In the meantime, construction efforts are staying away from the area the Brightspeed lines are.

Committee members also heard from treasurer Mary Ann Van Treese that the annual motorcycle ride fundraiser, which took place in June, brought in $7,675 for the memorial project.

“So, we did very well,” said Van Treese. Rhonda Mataczynski, committee member, also reported an additional $475 was raised for the meditation garden, that day, during the breakfast portion of the event.

Committee members also took the time to discuss what worked well, during the motorcycle ride, and where they can improve next year.