Organizations in Cokato
Boy Scouts of America Troop 253
It is the mission of the Boy Scouts of America to serve others by helping to instill values in young people and, in other ways, to prepare them to make ethical choices over their lifetimes in achieving their full potential. The values the organization strives to instill are based on those founded in the Scout Oath and Law.
Dassel-Cokato Troop 253 welcomes boys ages 12-18. There are currently about 20 members, and they meet the second and fourth Mondays of the month at St. John’s Education Center, beginning at 7 p.m. Anyone interested in joining, may contact Troop Scoutmaster Keith Dahlsing at (320) 275-9912.
Cokato American Legion Post 209
Since its founding in 1919, the American Legion has been an advocate for America’s veterans, a friend of the US military, a sponsor of community-based programs for young people, and a spokesman for patriotic values. Nearly 2.8 million members make it the nation’s largest veterans group, with about 15,000 local posts in most communities and six foreign countries. Membership is restricted to men and women who served in the US military during an official period of conflict.
Cokato Post 209 was founded in 1919, and meets in the back room of city hall the third Monday of the month at 7:30 p.m. except in March and December, when there are potluck dinners at the city hall at 6:30 p.m. In July, there is a potluck picnic at Veterans Park. There is no meeting in August. Currently, there are 72 members. Contact John Bergmann at (320) 286-2711 for membership information.
Cokato Chamber of Commerce
The Cokato Chamber meets the first Tuesday of every month at noon at Cokato City Hall. The Cokato Chamber of Commerce is a voluntary association of business people working to improve the economic and civic vitality of the community.
The officers are: Dori Kimball, president; Mike Seaberg, vice president; Jarod Sebring, treasurer; Ramona Strolberg, secretary; and Dorene Erickson, past president. Questions may be directed to Cokato City Hall at (320) 286-5505.
Cokato Community Chest
The Cokato Community Chest was founded in 1954 to be a team of representatives of city organizations that conduct one city-wide fundraiser per year. The board of directors then divides the funds among the social agencies, local, state and national, who have requested funds. Because there is an organization such as the community chest, there is only one door-to-door campaign per year, in October.
The organizers meet at the Cokato City Hall in the spring and fall. Officers include Butch Paulson, president; John Bergmann, vice president; Margaret Salo, secretary; and Susie Keskey, treasurer. Anyone interested in joining, may contact any of the officers listed.
Cokato Cub Scouts
The purpose of the Cub Scouts is to provide educational and recreational activities for first- through fifth-grade boys. There are about 40 members in the Cokato organization. The Cub Scouts usually meet twice a month. A pack meeting, for all the boys, is the third Tuesday of the month. The second meeting is a den meeting, which is only for the individual grades. Each den has age-appropriate activities for the Scouts. The Scouts also do Community Education service activities. There is fall recruitment, and information is handed out at the elementary school. Contact Lori Derosier, committee chair, at (320) 286-2226, or Dave Camp, cubmaster, at (320) 274-3558.
Cokato Economic Development Authority
The Cokato Economic Development Authority is charged with the responsibility to encourage, retain, attract, and promote business expansion and employment opportunities via redevelopment through state/federal programs benefiting the city.
Appointed by the city council, this advisory board consists of seven members that includes two council representatives. All EDA commissioners except council members shall serve terms of six years unless otherwise noted. Meetings take place on the first Monday of each month. Current commissioners include Dean Perry, Kurt Dahlin, Chuck Miller, Steve Dietman, Chris Schultz, and council members Butch Amundsen and Wayne Murphy.
Cokato Lions Club
The Cokato Lions Club is a service-driven organization serving both Dassel and Cokato communities. About half of its members are from the Dassel area. There are currently 43 members.
Some of the annual events include a pork chop stand at the Cokato Corn Carnival, spring pork chop feed, pancake breakfasts, etc. Fundraisers support the Dassel-Cokato scholarship fund for seniors and other projects.
Officers are Joe Luhman, president; Eric Sandstede, first vice president; Brad Morris, second vice president; Mike Lhotka, treasurer; and Abe Abrahamson, secretary. For more information, contact Chuck Miller (507) 822-0465.
Cokato-Dassel Rotary
The Rotary meets Thursdays at noon at Daniel’s Restaurant in Cokato. There are approximately 30 members, who participate in special projects that include an annual fall rose sale, golf scramble, root beer stand, Rural Urban Day, and wine tasting.
Rotary is a worldwide organization of business representatives providing humanitarian service, encouraging high ethical standards in business, and building goodwill and peace in the world.
To become a member, or if you have additional questions, contact Philip Geoffrion, president, at (763) 300-0342.
Cokato Finnish-American Historical Society
The Cokato Finnish-American Historical Society was founded in 1896. The purpose of the organization is to preserve historical buildings and artifacts located at Temperance Corner (north of Cokato on Highway 3), to educate the public, and to provide historical information.
There are about 90 members in the organization, which meets quarterly at the Temperance Hall, except for the January annual meeting, held in the Centennial Room at the Cokato Library. The annual meeting is followed by lunch and the Finnish tradition of melting tins.
The society has two festivals annually; the first is the Saturday before Memorial Day, and the second festival is the second Saturday in October. During the festivals, all buildings are open with historical displays and lunch is served. There is also a bake sale and raffle, plus a historical program at noon. Midsummer is also celebrated at the site in June with an evening dessert potluck, followed by a bonfire.
Pikkujoulu (Little Christmas) is celebrated the second Saturday in December. A candle lighting at the cemetery takes place in late afternoon, followed by a potluck supper.
The public is welcome to attend all events. Memberships are $8 for individuals, and $15 for couples, and donations help the society with their preservation and educational efforts. The society offers free Finnish language classes for young and old. It also offers scholarships to a Finnish language camp in the summer.
If anyone is interested in joining, or has more questions, they can call Harvey Barberg, president, at (320) 286-5823, or e-mail him at harveyheidib@yahoo.com.
Cokato Fire Department
The Cokato Fire Department meets the second and fourth Thursday of the month.
Officers are Mike Holmquist, chief; Ken Bakke, assistant chief; Jeff Carlson, captain; Jeff Amundsen, first lieutenant and training officer; and Kurt Dahlin, second lieutenant and training officer. Questions about the department may be directed to any Cokato firefighter.
Cokato Historical Society
The Cokato Historical Society board of trustees meets the third Thursday of each month at 7 p.m. (except December and April) in the Centennial Room of the library/museum building.
The historical society raises funds to support the operation of the award-winning Cokato Museum and Gust Akerlund Photography Studio, a National Register Historic site. They host quarterly programs and events, publish a quarterly newsletter, “In the Midst of,” and provide research services for genealogists or persons interested in local history.
Questions about the historical society, museum, or Akerlund Studio may be directed to the Cokato Museum at (320) 286-2427, e-mail cokatomuseum@embarqmail.com, or visit the web site: www.cokato.mn.us.
Cokato Senior Citizens Club
The senior citizens club is a social group and has been in existence since May 14, 1973. The members play cards and other games, and at 3 p.m., coffee and a snack is served. Each has a turn at bringing a snack. Occasionally, the group has a meal with others at Senior Dining at 11:30 a.m.
The Cokato Senior Citizens meet Mondays at 1 p.m. at 440 2nd Street NW, Apt. 1. Officers are Mildred Wolff, president/treasurer; and Carol Nelson, secretary.
FOCAL
Friends of the Cokato Area Library meets the third Monday of the month, 7 p.m., in the library, 175 4th St. SW, Cokato.
FOCAL is made up of community members who wish to support their local library with a membership donation, by volunteering to work on various projects and by speaking out in favor of the library.
A membership form may be obtained by visiting or calling the library at (320) 286-5760, or online at www.cokato.mn.us/library.
Minnesota Disaster Relief
The Minnesota Disaster Relief is a faith-based non-profit organization developed for the purpose of sending volunteers to areas affected by natural disasters. The organization began in December 2005, in the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Volunteers assist in many forms of cleanup and rebuilding projects.
There is a donation drop-off site located at 395 Broadway Ave. S., Cokato. The board of directors includes Al Nagel, director; Ned Wilson, president; Jim Kirkpatrick, vice president; Gary Plowman, treasurer; Jill Plowman, secretary; and Scott Barney, board member. To sign up to be on a notification list for upcoming trips, visit www.mndisasterrelief.org. For more information, contact Nagel at (320) 296-1521.
Mothers of Preschoolers (MOPS)
MOPS International exists to encourage, equip, and develop every mother of preschoolers to realize her potential as a woman and leader in the name of Jesus Christ.
The only criteria to become involved in MOPS is to be a mother of a child from birth to kindergarten.
The group, which averages around 24 mothers, meets bimonthly at the First Baptist Church of Cokato, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m., the first and third Monday of the month. Child care is provided.
To inquire about joining the local MOPS group, contact Anita Sanborn at (320) 286-5025 or Jenny Christopherson at (320) 286-2326, or come to one of the upcoming meetings.
Red Cross Bloodmobile
The Red Cross Bloodmobile was founded in 1948, for the purpose of organizing blood drives for Cokato and the surrounding area. The organization meets at the First Baptist Church of Cokato and has three blood drives each year, on the fourth Monday of February, June, and October. Officers include Gladys Peterson, Margaret Salo, and Ruth Schmieg. If anyone is interested in joining or has more questions, they can call Gladys Peterson at (320) 286-5948, Margaret Salo at (320) 286-5827, or Ruth Schmieg at (320) 286-2489.
Sew Friendly Quilt Guild
The Sew Friendly Quilt Guild was founded in 1997, for the purpose of teaching and encouraging people to sew and quilt. There are about 30-plus members in the organization, which meets the second Monday of the month at 7 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Cokato.
One of the special projects includes making a quilt each year as a group for the annual quilt show. The quilt show is once a year, alternating between during Dassel’s Red Rooster Days in September and the Cokato Corn Carnival in August. The quilt guild also donates quilts to local residents in need.
Officers in the organization through September 2010 are Louise Brooks and Mary Alice Holm, co-chairs; Sandy Tracy, secretary; and Gayle Carlson, treasurer.
If anyone is interested in joining, or has more questions, call Barb Erickson at (320) 275-2272.
Viewfinders Camera Club
The Viewfinders Camera Club was founded in 1983, to promote improvement of photography skills by learning from others. The club is open to any method of photography, point-and-shoot, 35 millimeter, or digital.
There are about 25 members in the organization, which meets on the first Thursday of the month from September through May.
During the months of December and May, the club has a photo contest. In November, the club hosts a community photo contest to non members. Other projects include the fall shoot-out, monthly traveling trophy subjects, guest speakers, and field trips.
Officers are Faye Kroeger, president; Bob Wilde, vice president; and Heidi Barberg, secretary/treasurer. Yearly elections take place in May. Incoming co-chairs will be Bonnie Eng and Wylene Danielson. If anyone is interested in joining or has any questions, contact Bob Wilde at (320) 275-2953 or Heidi Barberg at (320) 286-5823.
Free non-profit web sites offered to Dassel-Cokato organizations
Herald Journal Organizations gives community and non-profit organizations a free website platform from which they can better communicate with their members and their communities. This service is provided to organizations within the communities served by the Herald Journal, Enterprise Dispatch, and Delano Herald Journal newspapers.
For more information about having Herald Journal Organizations provide a free website for your organization, please email: hj@heraldjournal.com.
