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Organizational Spotlight
Smoke Signals™
By Joyce Corey
March Issue 2021
Prior Lake Neighbors Magazine
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For Rosemary Frank and Sheldon Bryant, it wasn’t enough to know that there were people in need; they
needed to know how they could help.
In 2015 the seed was planted as a fondness for charitable giving and vehicles grew which brought the two
Founders of Smoke Signals™ together...
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As founders of Smoke Signals™ they combine the idea of communication with community involvement.
Smoke signals, one of the oldest forms of long-distance communication were a visual way to connect, inform,
and elicit a response.
Today's Smoke Signals™ do just that.
It's a way to transmit news, bring people together in a common area for awareness, and
serve the people in the community.

So, what exactly does this look like?
In 2017, the inaugural Smoke Signals™ Charity Auto Show opened its gate at Mystic
Lake Hotel and Casino parking lot. The success of that event showed how many basic
needs could be met for the community and by the community they were serving.
This became an ongoing event and led to the decision of attaining 501(c)3 non-profit status in 2018.
The signature events of Smoke Signals™ are their own charity programs,
"Ride4Mobility" and The Little Market That Could™, Smoke Signals™ student scholarship mentoring program.

"Ride4Mobility" focuses on raising funds to help those in need of wheelchairs, walkers, and mobility scooters.
The Little Market That Could™ is an open-air community farmers market and classic vehicle roll-in. This
initiative gets fresh, locally grown food into the mouths of low-income youth ages 4-12 years old and seniors over 62 in the Prior Lake/Savage area-As an outlet for the University of Minnesota Power of Produce Program (P.O.P.), this is the first and only open air farmers market in Scott County of its kind. Both allows Smoke Signals™ to be sustainable and grow within.

Smoke Signals™ is reaching out to the community through events and fundraisers that
help people in practical ways. By linking up local farmers, artisan food chefs, artists, craft makers, butchers, bread makers, beekeepers, and more, a collective gathering of resources and reciprocity is created.

The objectives of Smoke Signals™ are simple however powerful:
Sustainability - committed to minimizing ecological footprints collectively
Wise stewardship - careful and responsible use of resources entrusted to their care
Commitment for community - engaging and bringing people together in amazing ways, one event at a time.

Founders, Rosemary Frank and Sheldon Bryant,
each bring a high level of empathy to their involvement with Smoke Signals™.
Sheldon has been described as "a very caring person whose mission is to make a
difference in the world."
Rosemary fell in love with nonprofits and giving when she was only a teenager. Inspired
at a food shelf as a recipient, she quickly developed a deep passion for charitable work.

By putting their compassion and understanding of the needs of others into action, they
have developed a network of people and events that are sending signals to the community.

And what's the message?
Be aware of the needs of those in your community and see how you can get involved.
Bookmark their website, www.sendingsmokesignals.org to find out more and to get the
latest information about fundraising events.
Smoke Signals™ Charity Programs and Community Wide Events are all presently based in MN and we strive to remove as many barriers as possible for all program participants.

Our Call Out Box:
Smoke Signals™ has opportunities for individuals, groups, and organizations who are
seeking ways to assist the community.
There are many rewarding volunteer positions at The Little Market That Could™ during its annual seasonal run. Contact: Sheldon 952-456-1650 or Rosemary 612-214-8770 or email them: sendingasmokesignal@gmail.com

Thank you for your support and energies given
TOGETHER WE ARE Sending... Smoke Signals™ for this SMALL 501(c)3 non-profit with a HUGE Heart!
May Smoke Signals™ Mission, Values and Statement  send a charitable awareness to others and that which will be passed down to successive generations through our Smoke Signals™ charity footprint within our Communities.
Rosemary | Sheldon

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Smoke Signals™ FOUNDERS TEAM

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SHELDON BRYANT 
CO-FOUNDER/BOARD

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Sending... Smoke Signals™
​Imagine how much better our community would be if we all felt compelled to selflessly give and to help others.
Sheldon has been described as, "A very caring person whose mission is to make a difference in the world." Another offered, "No one lives the value of "giving" or "paying it forward" better than Sheldon Bryant." 
Whether it be to volunteer your time, champion a special cause, or share life's lessons with a struggling teen or young adult, we all have the capacity to give more and help others.  
It is those selfless practices that define who we are and is what sets our community apart from all others. Which naturally lead him to become Co-Founder of Smoke Signals™ in 2018.
Sheldon has/is serves in:
Community Organizations
​Lebanon Lodge #346 
​Prior Lake Chamber of Commerce | Ambassador
​Prior Lake High School Campus Supervisor
Prior Lake Optimist
Prior Lake Rotary
Osman Shrine - Shrine Clown
Southern Valley Alliance Battered Women Board of Directors

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STUDIO 501 | CLEARY CONSULTING

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Mary Cleary serves as a consultant to nonprofits in the areas of accounting and fiscal management. Mary’s life-long pursuit is to apply an entrepreneurial approach to the management of mission-driven nonprofits. She previously served as the director of finance of Chrysalis, A Center for Women. Her responsibilities included coordinating, creating, and maintaining a $2.5 million operating budget, a $4 million capital campaign budget, and efficiently managing all financial areas of the organization. She established accounting policies, procedures, and internal controls, and developed practical pricing models. Mary earned a B.S. degree in accounting from University of San Francisco. Mary received her MBA from the University of St. Thomas in new venture management, where she wrote numerous business plans and developed a screening tool used to quickly identify viable business models.

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ROSEMARY FRANK
CO-FOUNDER/BOARD

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A Native Minnesotan,
​Rosemary fell in love with nonprofits & giving back when she was only a teenager. Inspired at a food shelf as a recipient, Rosemary quickly developed a deep passion for charitable work. This resolve stuck with her through the past 40 years, leading her to become Co-Founder of Smoke Signals™ in 2018.
​Rosemary Frank provides support to our Team Smoke Signals™ and is happy spending and sharing endless possibilities within Smoke Signals™ | Charity Auto Shows & Fundraising Community Events during her days at helping keep communities an amazing place to live for all, one charitable program, event & show at a time.
​Rosemary has/is serves in:
Community Organizations
​MnChallengers Car Club-Charity Director/Event Organizer
Classic Corvette Club of MN
Women of Today New Hope Chapter
Clowns Across the River - librarian/clown-Rosebud
Rotary Club Prior Lake friends of and manager of volunteers at Lake-Front MusicFest
​Prior Lake Lions
American Indian Family Center St. Paul, MN. Board of Directors

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Victoria Ittner Secretary/Board Smoke Signals™ Volunteer Since 2017

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​Formerly at PL-VFW aka as
​Veterans Harvest Market Founder

COLLEEN CALLAHAN

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  VOLUNTEER TEAM LEADS

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Ittner & Schultz ​Registration Coordinators

Ittner ​Parking Lot Coordinator

CAKEWALK Gerald

PEDAL PRIOR Sherry Hoffman

Alken & Johnson ​Volunteer/Vendor Coordinators

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Victoria Ittner - Crystal (2017) Present

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Gerald Ittner - Crystal  (2017) Present

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​Betty Schultz - Belle Plaine (2018-2021)​

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​Gerald Ziskovsky - Prior Lake (2018) Present

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Annette Braaten - Burnsville 2021

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Kevin Perdew - Bloomington 2021

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Char Chmielewski - Prior Lake (2018-2021)

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Paul Stahler - Prior Lake (2018) Present

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Scott Pierce - Prior Lake 2021

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Sheila Stahler - Prior Lake (2018) Present

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Mark Braaten - Burnsville 2021

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Sherry Hoffman - Prior Lake (2018-2021)

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Peggy Brooks - Shakopee (2020) Present

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Janelle Alken - Prior Lake (2017-2019)

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​Lisa Johnson - Prior Lake (2017-2019)

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Lori Kurtz - Glencoe (2018) Present

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A Special Thank You

A Special Thank you given to Smoke Signals™ additional event Operational Leads from surrounding communities including however not limited to: ​CARVER, SCOTT & DAKOTA COUNTY Cities of:
Prior Lake, Savage, Shakopee, Belle Plaine, Jordan

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