2008 Update April
Ellsworth-Kanopolis Area Chamber of Commerce (ellsworthkschamber.net)
@Nick’s Notes: 2008 April Update #875
Office hours: 10:00 am – 4:00 pm
To: Chamber Member
CHAMBER BOARD BUSINESS
At their regular March board meeting the board of directors approved the following:
· The ad hoc Christmas Committee Chairperson, Ms. Muchow’s, report. The report sets the date for the annual Christmas celebration on Saturday, December 20th. (see Christmas 2008, pge 2)
· Kansas Wesleyan University Chorale concert on Wednesday, April 23, 7:30pm at the EHS Performing Arts Center. (See Concert page 2)
· Sponsorship of the Culpepper & Merriweather Circus to be held at the Ellsworth Recreation Center grounds on Thursday, May 29th. (See Circus page 2)
· Change of May meeting date and noon luncheon to Monday, May 19th, due to the Memorial Day holiday on the 26th.
In other business the board:
- Received a report from guest Brenda Chelvan, Globalink Inc., regarding plans for upgrading the chamber web site to include photos of the business and other potential improvements.
- Reviewed plans for the April noon luncheon schedule with Greg Schmidt, Sales Manager, Eagle Communications TV, as the speaker. (See April Noon Luncheon page 2). For the May noon luncheon
Linda Denning, Editor/Publisher, Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter, will be the speaker.
· Was advised by the director that the radio commercial promoting Ellsworth will begin playing in April on radio stations in Salina, Great Bend and Russell. The spots will continue in May and June as in-kind membership funds will allow.
BUSINESS “BUZZ”
2008 NEW MEMBER
We are pleased to welcome and congratulate H & B Communications, Inc., 108 N. Main Street, Holyrood, as new chamber Friend members. D. J. and her brother Rob are 3rd generation owners in the Koch family business which began in 1925. D. J. and Rob’s spouses and children are also involved in the business. H & B’s primary business was and still remains an independent telephone service provider – with service in Holyrood, Bushton and Dorrance. Telephone service in Claflin and Ellinwood have since been added. Cable TV service is provided in Holyrood, Bushton, Dorrance, Lorraine, Claflin, Little River, and Chase, as well as high speed internet services. H & B has also diversified with consumer electronics featuring Sony products, including their High Definition television line. DJ invites you to stop by and see the latest cutting edge technology in their consumer electronics showroom. She says, “H & B truly is bringing technology to your doorstep.” Adding H & B to our Communications business directory web page provides our area with a comprehensive list of providers of these types of communication services for families seeking to relocate to our area. They will also appear on our web page Gift and Home & Garden listings. H & B can be reached at 785-252-4000 (800-432-8296); email djn@hbcomm.net; website www.hbcomm.net. We encourage D. J., Rob and their associates to participate in any of our chamber activities as time will allow.
Unless we have within us that which is above us we will soon yield to the pressures around us.
RELOCATIONS & NEW BUSINESS
- Chamber Member Shannon Mog, Reliant Roofing, LLC, has moved from his home office to his property at 122 N. Douglas. Shannon will be marketing his roofing business as well as SLM Investments, LLC and Livinity-A Business Opportunity. His sister Season is the office manager. A ribbon cutting and open house is being planned for June 19th. The telephone number is 472-3900; email reliantroofing@att.net. We welcome Shannon and Season to historic downtown Ellsworth.
- Agent Joey Crome, New York Life Insurance Company, has moved from his home office to the second floor at 122 N. Douglas. Joey offers Life Insurance, Long Term Care, Annuities, Retirement Income, Disability and Business Insurance/Benefits. He can be reached at 785-747-6513; or email jcrome@ft.newyorklife.com. We welcome Joey to our downtown neighborhood.
NEW CONTACT
Friend member Hospice Care of Kansas has a new representative for our area, Consultant Kacey Burse. She replaces Bob Jones in the Salina office whom we introduced in the February update. We welcome and encourage Kacey to attend our chamber functions whenever possible.
It you think it’s hard to meet new people, pick up the wrong golf ball.
2008 RENEWALS
Thanks for the following chamber annual renewal investments:
Friend: Trade Wind Energy
Associates: Eugene C. Jarus, DDS and Ellsworth Area Arts Council.
CHRISTMAS 2008
After reviewing surveys returned by downtown retailers, the Ad hoc Christmas Planning Committee has set Saturday, December 22nd as the official celebration of Christmas in Ellsworth. Plans call for activities beginning at noon with entertainment, Santa Claus, and prize drawings throughout the afternoon. The parade is scheduled for 5:30pm followed by the Ellsworth County Independent-Reporter’s major cash drawing. Activities for children and wrapping of packages by students are ideas also being considered.
The real secret of staying young is being too busy to think about it.
CONCERT
The Chamber board of directors is sponsoring the Kansas Wesleyan University Chorale in concert under the direction of former Ellsworth instructor Ken Hakoda. Nine Ellsworth area students are members of the Chorale which has recently completed a concert tour to California. The date is Wednesday, April 23rd at the EHS Performing Arts Center, 7:30 pm. The doors will open at 7:00. Admission will be free-will.
CIRCUS
The Chamber board has signed an agreement with the Culpepper & Merriweather Circus for two May 29th performances, 5:00 and 7:30 pm. The agreement required a $290 sponsor fee which may be refunded depending on the number of adult tickets that are sold. Since there has not been a circus in Ellsworth for some time the board felt that it has a good potential for a fund raiser. Advance ticket sales are the key to success as the chamber will receive a larger percentage of sales than from the gate. Advance prices are $6 and $8 as opposed to $7 and $11 respectively, at the gate. The board will complete plans for the sale of tickets at their April board meeting. In addition to local sales, the circus will do telephone marketing of children’s tickets to local businesses. I have been advised that the marketers will begin contacting businesses sometime within the next 2 weeks. We will receive credit for any of those ticket sales and will be responsible for delivering and collecting the money. Businesses will have various options for distribution of the tickets purchased. The circus web site is www.cmcircus.com. Check it out and watch the tent set-up video.
APRIL NOON LUNCHEON
The April 28th noon luncheon will be held at the Ellsworth Golf Course meeting room with Greg Schmidt, Sales Manager, Eagle Communications TV, as the guest speaker. Students from EHS will be recognized. The Pizza Hut will cater the lunch. Invitations will be forthcoming. The board is pleased with the response from the first two lunches with approximately 40 attendees at each session.
It really doesn’t matter who wears the pants in the family as long as there is money in the pockets.
RANCH RODEO
The El-Kan Western Riders Ranch Rodeo is to be held on Saturday, April 26th at the El-Kan Western Riders Arena. The cowgirl’s event starts at 10:00 am with Ranch Horse Show competition at 2:00 pm. The men ride at 7:00 pm. El-Kan President Alan Stefek has indicated that the expenses for the rodeo are covered so there will be no admission charge at the gate. This could enhance attendance and provide a number of visitors to the community throughout the day.
NUPTIALS
Downtown business woman and chamber member Kelvi Peschka, Lux Interiors, will wed Ellsworth native, Karlton Place at St. Paul’s Evangelical Church on Saturday, April 26th at 4:00 pm. I invite our members to join us in congratulating Kelvi and Karlton.
Marriage would be pretty dull without a cross word. Here’s an example: Kelvi: “I’ll admit I’m wrong if you’ll admit I’m right.” Karlton: “O.K .You go first.” Kelvi: “You’re right.”
SAMPLER FESTIVAL
The 2008 Kansas Sampler Festival is being held at the Concordia City Park on Saturday, May 3, 10am-5pm and Sunday May 4, 10am-4pm. The festival is about architecture, art, commerce, cuisine, geography, history and people. It is an exceptional showcase for all of the counties in Kansas. The Ellsworth County booth is sponsored by Smoky Hills Development Corporation, Ellsworth-Kanopolis Chamber of Commerce and the National Drovers Hall of Fame. Volunteers are needed to man the booth. Items for booth visitors are being provided by Wilson (mini-kolaches), Holyrood (wheat bags), Kanopolis (salt), the historical society (cow patty cookies), brochures from the chamber and copies of the Independent-Reporter’s KanHistique publication. Other items will be added before the event. According to Jan Essick both days’ schedules are in need of some volunteers in order to have some relief for the few who will be there. Anyone needing information on volunteering may contact Ms. Essick at 472-4617 or call the chamber office.
It’s not what happens to us that matters, but how we meet it.
CHAMBER GATHERIN
We have no gatherin’s scheduled for May and July-November. Anyone interested in hosting, please contact the office.
GIFT CHECKS
In March there were two deposits totaling $145.00. The bank processed 57checks with a value of $660.00. Gift checks still outstanding total $ 4347.00
Today, we have three kinds of people in the world: the haves, the have-nots and the charge-its.
CHAMBER MARKETNG REMINDER
Businesses wanting to get special information out to chamber members need only provide material through emails that can be forwarded and downloaded to be copied and faxed to members without email capabilities. Sorry we cannot do mailings but the two methods listed reach over 90% of our membership.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
April 17 Thursday, Ellsworth-Kanopolis Chamber of Commerce Monthly Gatherin’, Morford Greenhouse, 1376 18th Rd, Kanopolis, 5:30 – 6:30 p.m.
April 18 Friday, VFW Auxiliary Garage Sale, 8:00 am – 5 pm.
April 19 Saturday, VFW Auxiliary Garage Sale, 8 am – 3 pm.
April 23 Wednesday, KWU Chorale Concert, EHS Performing Arts Center, 7:30pm, free-will offering.
April 26 Saturday Ellsworth County Medical Center Health Fair, 9 am – noon, Administrative Building
April 26 Saturday, El-Kan Western Riders Rodeo, 10 am – cowgirls; 2 pm –ranch horse show; 7 pm. Cowboys
April 28 Monday, chamber monthly noon luncheon, Ellsworth Golf Course meeting room.
April 28 Monday, Ellsworth-Kanopolis Chamber of Commerce monthly meeting, 6:00 pm.
May 5 Monday World Day of Prayer, Court House, 12:00 – 12:30
Pass this update on to others!