The Miller 2025 Staycation was a success! All three of my sisters, my brother-in-law, and my parents came together for three days, and we all walked away unscathed (some random pictures here). This entailed lots of food, indoor and outdoor games, neighborhood walks, attending Sporting KC’s match, and more. As most weekends go, it went by super fast. But, I’m thankful that even as we’ve grown older, we still take the time to reminisce and make new memories.
Pomona Welcomes a Fresh Start at Amigos
It’s always exciting to try new things. This week, our office did just that when Amigos Mexican Restaurant in Pomona hosted Chamber members for a ribbon cutting (pictures here). I was so pleased when their new management came to our office to share the news about their reopening. When I asked if they wanted to cut a ribbon to celebrate, they wanted to know if we were busy the following morning… We usually try to schedule those out a couple of weeks in advance, so we settled on this past Tuesday! Our staff can’t remember a time we hosted a networking event in Pomona, so this was pleasantly out of the norm. As the Ottawa AREA Chamber of Commerce, we’re thankful for the opportunity to partner with this Franklin County business. Due to the distance, I was curious to see what the attendance would be like. But as our community does, we had a great showing to support this new ownership at a longstanding establishment.
When Manager Rafael Garcia came to Pomona to run the restaurant, there were numerous aesthetic changes that needed to be made, both inside and out. As a result, they gave the exterior a facelift and gutted the interior. No more booths, new tables and chairs, and a fresh menu are all things you can expect when you stop by Amigos at 234 W Franklin St. in Pomona. Following the ribbon-cutting ceremony, a group of us stayed for lunch. My street tacos and JieJie’s taquitos were both great (picture here)!
City of Ottawa Recent Proclamation
This Wednesday’s City Commission meeting was a marathon—lasting nearly four hours! Our Commissioners don’t get pats on the back very often from the public. But just as they are at all meetings, they were present and eager to listen, whether it was a 40-minute meeting or a 4-hour meeting. Thankful for their service!
A large part of this meeting’s length stemmed from the inclusion of community partner requests for the 2026/27 fiscal year. Over a dozen organizations were present for those requests, including our Chamber. Prior to these partner requests, the City issued two proclamations, one of which I would like to highlight, specifically regarding the new federal holiday, Juneteenth. Former Mayor Richard Jackson accepted the declaration, and he summed it up perfectly, saying that people who don’t know their history are bound to repeat it (picture here). This annual celebration commemorates the freedom of all enslaved people in the United States. On June 19th 1865, two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation from President Lincoln, Union soldiers went to Galveston, Texas to enforce the freeing of all remaining slaves. Juneteenth, a blend of “June” and “nineteenth,” is rooted in our nation's shared values of liberty, justice, and human dignity. Communities across the country (including Ottawa) have honored the day in this way—reminding us that freedom is worth celebrating.
Support Staff Stepping Up—and Reaching Out
I was invited to Neosho County Community College this week as the Support Staff Committee, for both the Chanute and Ottawa campuses, gathered for their annual in-person get-together. This is a group that works in roles as their title suggests; they’re made up of staff members who support their supervisors and students in their varying departments. They conduct programming and educational initiatives throughout the year to uplift students and staff alike. This little “retreat” is a way for them to get to know each other further and have a game plan for the next school year.
I was asked if I’d come and give a short presentation on the topic of “community/partnership”, which I was excited to do (picture here). I briefly touched on the Chamber’s role in supporting our business community, with a strong intention of creating a welcoming space for all groups to be a part of. The focus of our conversation was on becoming aware of the barriers or challenges that might exist for those departments, people, or organizations that are not currently partnering with them. In some cases they’ve siloed themselves, or maybe the organizational structure forces them to be distant. Regardless, we can all think of these groups with whom we wish there were a stronger partnership or more effective communication channels taking place. Once we understand the challenge at hand, we can then start making progress! There were plenty of Kansas Leadership Competencies that were sprinkled throughout the chat. Hopefully, if they only walk away with one thing, it's that they’re now slightly more aware of those around them whom they're not currently partnering with—and hopefully, they make an effort to execute leadership and make a connection.
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Lots of movement in our office this morning as we get ready to kick off our 2025 Summer Concert Series (more info here)! Like every annual event, there’s always lots of planning behind the scenes prior to. Thankfully, I have an ultra-organized Office Manager in Sherri Lund who keeps us on track! We also have dozens of partners and sponsors who help make it logistically and financially happen (concert sponsors here).
It wouldn’t be an outdoor summer concert without some summer weather. It looks like a perfect day to enjoy a cold beverage, surrounded by friends and family, while listening to some local live music. You’re invited to join in on the fun! Hope to see you tonight at Legacy Square (125 S Walnut Street) from 6pm-10pm (beer garden opens at 5:30pm). Bring your own chair, and we'll bring the good vibes! See you soon,
Ryland Miller
President/CEO
Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce
ryland@ottawakansas.org
785-242-1000
