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Sometimes elected officials use their positions for public good and sometimes they do not. In the case of Wyoming Mayor Sheldon Anderson-- he is determined to do more with his mayoral tenure than the office usually requires. Acting on the philosophy that he has unique exposure and a pulpit for action as an elected person; he has begun fundraising for the area Teen Center by camping out on the roof of city hall in Wyoming.

He'll stay in the tent until he brings in $35,000 for the center.

The $35,000 is approximately a year of annual costs for the center with extra funds for a few essential goods. The Center is a program of the Forest Lake Community Education Department. It's open Monday through Friday, 2:15 to 5:30 p.m. and serves youth ages seventh through ninth grade. Kathy Bystrom, Youth Development for the Community Education program, said the Forest Lake District is a "tri-county" one so there are many youth out of Chisago County who visit. The center averages 50 youth each day, special events or game nights there will be 100 and more.

February 2, Anderson's first full day of his fundraiser, we found him sporting a hunting beard and coordinating outdoorsman apparel, enjoying views of the Wyoming Library and the Sunrise Prairie Trail parking lot to the west.

Stepping inside the tent, if not for the laptop computer, cellphone and folding table, the scene is like anybody's ordinary campsite. The tent is held down by a wood floor inside the structure, Anderson explains he couldn't exactly pound tent stakes into the roof.

He was just finishing a sandwich delivered in a styrofoam to-go box from a local restaurant, and was tinkering with Internet installation for his webcam and microphone that he'll rely on for communicating and soliciting donations.

A jumbo thermo container sat near the computer and a shrink-wrapped case of juice sat on the floor at the foot of the cot. A small space heater was keeping things comfortable as the whine of vehicles on County Road 30 could be heard through the tent walls. Every so often somebody would tap their horn in support as they drove by.

"I didn't become mayor to just show up for two council meetings a month," Anderson shared. He said being mayor affords him a public presence, with connections to media and to other elected officials that would be a shame to waste.

When he learned of the Teen Center's needs last year, he and the Wyoming Council contributed $8,000 in city tax funds to help keep the program afloat. This year, however, he decided to get more personally involved and at the same time bring the center to the public's attention.

"The biggest thing is to get people thinking about the center," he continued.

Drawing from his own teenaged years he talked about his family's trying times. Anderson has a personal understanding that for some youth, the hours after-school can be scary. Home is not always a safe place, but the teen center is there to help kids with their homework, play games, be a place to hang out and avoid trouble.

Anderson worked in his 20s as a residential counselor at the Bar None Boys' Ranch and was able to use his own experiences to help at-risk teens. He went on to establish a private investigation/security firm. He is in his second term as mayor.

When there was domestic unrest at the Anderson household, the mayor said he could chill at a McDonald's restaurant in his neighborhood. It was there that a Friday night plains clothes police officer working security befriended Anderson. An adult who cares and listens and isn't threatening can be all the motivation needed to turn a life that could be wasted into one that amounts to something, Anderson explained. That's what the Teen Center offers and if his fundraising contributes to even one kid feeling secure then it'll be worth it.

Anderson has had many visitors to his city hall "campsite" the first few days. Some funds are being raised by phone and some people are coming to city hall and leaving contributions directly. Larger donations have come in from General Safety/Rosenbauer in Wyoming, the Hallberg Family Foundation and individual donations have been inspiring.

Tasty Asia and Nesting Grounds are a couple of businesses that are helping with food, the BP and Shell stations in Wyoming have also donated drinks, etc. Gander Mountain loaned Anderson his "outdoor" gear.

He's prepared to be roofbound for a couple weeks if need be. Wyoming Vice-Mayor Tom LaBarre is overseeing the city council meeting this week. Anderson says he will only be off the rooftop caucus night to sign onto his precinct straw tally.

How to donate

The best way to learn more about the fundraising effort and especially to make a donation is to go to the Forest Lake Dist. Community Education site on the Internet at www.communityed4u.org There's a link on that page to the Teen Center.

On the Teen Center/Fundraising web page you'll find pictures uploaded by Anderson and updates. At the bottom right corner you'll see icons for making donations.

Bystrom said the teens are also in the process of posting a wish list of items the center could use.

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