After a holiday, readjusting to a four-day workweek can be tough. These past few days have been action-packed. But, it’s reassuring to know that the time off was well spent!
Prior to heading out of town, I joined nearly one hundred individuals at the War Memorial, located at 4th and Main, for their Memorial Day service (pictures here). The Franklin County Honors has brought this program to our community for the past few years, providing everyone with an opportunity to reflect on the significance of this holiday.
Saturday, Makayla and I brought international student, Rafael, to his first Sporting KC game (pictures here). Though we might lack some of the intensity he’s used to back in Brazil, Saturday's match was full of exciting moments. There were six goals scored, resulting in a 3-3 draw.
On Monday, we spent time with Makayla’s family in Topeka on what turned out to be a rainy Memorial Day. That didn’t stop the nieces and nephews from spending time in the pool. And once everyone had dried off, we played games throughout the rest of the afternoon inside (see pictures here).
Leadership Franklin County Kicks Off New Year
Immediately following the Monday off, the Leadership Franklin County Board of Trustees met for our annual board retreat. This is a morning session that allows the board to reassess the past year, make any necessary adjustments, and prepare the program for another successful session. After a half-day of discussion and collaboration, we’re ready to accept applicants for the 2025-2026 class (more information and application details here)! One of the caveats of being an annual program is the timeline for submitting applications, with just a month's window to apply. I apologize in advance as we will be pushing this very hard to ensure everyone is aware and doesn't miss the chance to apply! Applications are open now until June 30th at 11:59pm, so there’s no time to dilly-dally (another link here).
With all that being said, we need YOU to help identify individuals for this impactful program. The best marketing is word of mouth, and we hope you'll be thinking about someone you know who you could encourage to apply. There are no prerequisites to take the course, and all levels of training and authority are welcome. We often see an array of industry types, ages, and titles each year, and I bet this session will be no different. This proven leadership program is guaranteed to provide each participant with a deeper understanding of our community, a network of peers, opportunities for leadership growth, and access to a network of hundreds of alumni, as well as continued education scholarships. One way participants can continue to grow after their LFC graduation is by engaging with the Kansas Leadership Center in Wichita. As an alum, you can access complimentary tuition to KLC’s training. This looks like thousands of dollars in real value. Meanwhile, the connections that are made during the class are one of the most valuable assets to the program.
To build upon the importance of connection and celebration, LFC is hosting its 40th anniversary celebration this August. Alumni are invited to engage with 40 years of community advocates, sharing in the rich history of this program. Mark your calendars for August 27th from 5:30-7:30pm at the Ottawa Memorial Auditorium. To help us get a better idea of the numbers, we are asking those who are interested to share their interest by clicking the following link and marking 'interested' (view that here). We’re hopeful to get as many alums as possible, so if you're still in contact with your classmates, please share the word! This free evening will include some food, drinks, and even better fellowship.
Help Us Close the Gap this Independence Day
This week, the Chamber’s Chautauqua Festival Committee sent out formal letters to all our Chamber members regarding the upcoming Independence Day fireworks show. Each year, this committee raises over $8,000 to ensure that our community has a safe and enjoyable holiday. Large contributors annually include the City of Ottawa and Franklin County government, who make up the bulk of the fundraising. Even with those contributions, we are $2,000 short of our goal each year.
The purpose of the letter sent this week is to encourage private businesses to give within their means to this cause (letter here). All donations are brought through The Chamber Foundation, meaning they are tax-deductible. Along with the purchase of the fireworks, this committee helps coordinate the efforts of numerous volunteers who are needed to prepare the site, shoot the fireworks, and clean up any mess left behind. If you’re unable to participate in this program financially, we hope that you might consider giving of your time in one of these capacities. It takes a village to make this annual event take place and we have just the right community to step up and make it a reality!
COUNTRY Financial Opens Doors in Ottawa
This morning’s Chamber Ribbon Cutting was hosted by new Ottawa business and new Chamber member Steve Savage with COUNTRY Financial (pictures here). COUNTRY Financial just celebrated its 100-year anniversary as a company. What started as a service for farmers through the Illinois Agricultural Association has grown into a full-service insurance and financial provider. They offer everything from auto and home insurance to retirement and health. But, what has stayed consistent over the years is their agents' focus on the community they serve. Steve might have just started this branch in Ottawa, but he is no stranger to the area. He grew up in Ottawa and is making a homecoming after several years in Overland Park. He shared that he chose to work for COUNTRY because of its reputation as a company, and he decided to return to Ottawa to start this business because it still feels like home―though he shared it has changed significantly over the past twenty years!
Along with his Ribbon Cutting this morning, Steve is throwing a party this evening! He is inviting everyone out for a cookout at his office and a movie at the Plaza Theatre next door (full ad here). Starting at 5pm he will be sharing hamburgers and hot dogs with those who stop by his location at 215 S Main Street. For those interested in getting a quote, you have the chance to win a Yeti cooler, and the first 50 will receive admission to a showing of their choice at the record-holding world's longest-running movie theatre, Plaza 1907. We’re glad to have Steve back in our community!
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Makayla and I are jumping back into a busy weekend. I'll try to remember to take pictures along the way. I hope you stay safe and talk to you soon!
Ryland Miller
President/CEO
Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce
ryland@ottawakansas.org
785-242-1000
