Thank You for Supporting the Chamber This January
This Monday evening, the Chamber’s virtual auction came to a close. Bids were placed on all of our graciously donated items, and pickup for items commenced on Tuesday. If you were one of the lucky winners, but haven’t yet come and snagged your item, it’s here at the Chamber office waiting for you! I believe all but a few have been snagged at this point in time, and we’re grateful―not just for the winners picking them up, but also for choosing to support our organization in this way. If you placed a bid, donated an item, or attended our banquet as an individual or a sponsor, you’ve contributed to the mission of our organization. We have such a fantastic membership base that continues to support us so well. Thank you to all who made January such a successful month!
Leadership Franklin County Gets a Look Inside State Government
Yesterday, I had the pleasure of joining our Leadership Franklin County class as we all took a field trip to the State Capitol (pictures here). This annual trek to Topeka gives participants a chance to tour the building and catch a glimpse of how our state legislators represent their constituents back in Franklin County. Following the hour bus ride, LFC members had the opportunity to head to the tip top with a dome tour. For those who prefer to keep their feet on the ground, there were several committees they could sit in on. We then heard from State Rep. Courtney Sappington, the current City of Ottawa Interim City Manager and lobbyist, Blaine Finch, and State Sen. Caryn Tyson throughout the morning. All three shared their perspective on their role and the beast that is the state legislature. They also painted a picture of the work that is actually taking place there every day, and it’s not what the media often depicts. They all independently said that as much as 80% of the work they do in session is bipartisan, with both sides of the aisle working to make Kansas a better state. There are some topics, bills, and personalities that can differ from that. But for the most part, they believe the system works to make progress on state challenges (though not as quickly as some would like).
Every year, we make a point of having the class watch the House and Senate in session. It’s always fun to point out the differences between the two, as well as their similarities. It’s clear that legislators often have a plan when they walk into the room, but within 10 minutes, it can fall apart, and organized chaos takes over. One of the big conversations in the House yesterday was Senate Bill 254, which “prohibits aliens who are unlawfully present in the United States from receiving any state or local public benefit in accordance with applicable federal law.” You can read more about this bill and its current status here (link to reporter’s article). Over in the Senate, there was a heated debate about two different pieces of legislation (S.B. 419 and S.B. 421) revolving around free speech following the murder of Charlie Kirk last fall. You can find an article here about that conversation and the two bills (see them here).
I love that LFC goes beyond the classroom and exposes participants to how our cities, county, and state operate. While curriculum plays an important role, seeing leadership in action in the varying industries covered is one of the biggest benefits of the course. Now’s a great time to start thinking about a candidate you might have for the 26/27 class. Applications will be coming out in May!
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Superbowl Sunday is a little gloomier when your local team isn’t there to cheer on. For those fans who feel the stress deep down, maybe it’ll be good to have a year off! Though we won’t need to wear red on Sunday, it doesn’t mean we won’t be enjoying the company and the yummy food that comes along with watching the last game of the season. Whether you’re watching football or not this weekend, I hope it’s a good one! Talk to you soon,
Ryland Miller
President/CEO
Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce
ryland@ottawakansas.org
785-242-1000
