ABCDE Monday Messenger

January 29, 2007

ABCDE – Better Together

Greetings!  This is the fifty-first edition of the Monday Messenger.  Its purpose is to bring you current information about the ABCDE project and area.  ABCDE consists of local residents from Atlanta, Burden, Cambridge, Dexter and Eastern Cowley County working together for community development.  If you have anything to submit for the newsletter, please send it to shannonthom@hotmail.com. 

Have you heard about ABCDE?

  Twice recently, I was surprised to hear or read about the ABCDE project outside of Cowley County.  The first was the mention of the ABCDE Pilot Project from the Governor’s Office as part of the reasoning behind the proposed Office of Rural Opportunities.  In the Governor’s proposal outlining the new endeavor, it reads, “We have gained further insights through our joint experiences with the Governor’s Pilot Communities of Smith Center, Onaga and the communities of eastern Cowley County known as ABCDE.”

Over the weekend, while staying at the Hyatt in Wichita, I picked up a magazine entitled Images of the Greater Wichita Area.  In the center of the magazine, the Greater Wichita Economic Development Coalition spotlights regional business success stories.  In an article about Cowley County, the ABCDE project is mentioned for bringing entrepreneurial businesses to rural areas.  

Keep up the good work ABCDE members – we truly are better together.

Farm Bureau – It’s More than Insurance

  Kansas Farm Bureau represents grassroots agriculture.  Established in 1919, this non-profit advocacy organization supports farm families who earn their living in a changing industry.  If it impacts farmers, ranchers or rural Kansas communities, Kansas Farm Bureau is engaged with it.  This takes may forms – policy and political advocacy in Washington D.C., Topeka, county commissions, city councils, and school boards.  Kansas Farm Bureau also stands up for its members through leadership development, agriculture education, legal defense work, environmental advocacy, farm safety, risk management, rural development and international trade.  As the Voice of Agriculture, Kansas Farm Bureau is an organization of men, women and families with skills, knowledge, wisdom and faith, who understand that together, they can accomplish what they cannot do alone.

One Kansas farmer produces enough food to feed 145 people.

If you would like to learn more about what Farm Bureau does for agriculture, visit www.kfb.org.

A Fun Place to Shop

  I had the opportunity to visit a unique business in Dexter over the last week.  I don’t sew or quilt, so I had never been inside of Creek Water Wool Works.  I was amazed at the interesting store located at 216 South Maple.  The inside is filled with beautiful fabrics, quilts, frames, buttons and many other items.  Marci Penner has featured Creek Water Wool Works in her new Kansas Guidebook.  For store hours, an appointment or orders over the internet, visit www.creekwaterwoolworks.com.

Mark your Calendars!

There are two exciting events being planned in Eastern Cowley County for April. 

The first is the Eastern Cowley County Spring Farm and Ranch Tour on April 14 and 15.  This is a new event.  Last fall, a successful Fall Farm and Ranch Tour was held.  The hope is to hold a Spring and Fall tour each year.  For more information contact project leader Shannon Thom Martin (620) 876-3467 or shannonthom@hotmail.com.

The other new event will be held on April 28^th.  It will be the first ever Eastern Cowley County Area-wide Garage Sales and Flea Market.  Through the ABCDE organization, we are encouraging residents to hold a Garage Sale on this week.  If you would like more information, contact project leaders Yvonne Stone (620) 876-3374 or yvonne@sktc.net.

We Kan Conference

The Kansas Sampler Foundation will be sponsoring a We Kan! Conference on March 20-21.  The conference is designed to help make your town the best it can be at being itself.  The theme for this year is Explorer Tourism.  It will be held in Salina and the costs are $60 for We Kan! members and $85 for non-members.  To join We Kan! or the Kansas Explorers Club log on to www.kansassampler.org.  Registration forms are now available by calling The Kansas Sampler Foundation at (620) 585-2374.

Do you have an idea for a business?

Through 2007, business owners and those with business ideas have access to a Professional Business Coach.  His name is Jack Newcomb and he is available for free, confidential advice and he will even come to you.  Through the ABCDE program, we have joined the Quad EF project and have access to their business coach.  Many local banks, businesses and the County assisted to pay the Quad membership fee through December of 2007.  For more information contact Jack at (620) 249-2108.

Upcoming Activities/Events

January 29-30            Kansas Downtown Development Training, Topeka

January 31            Marketing Specialty Livestock Workshop, Salina

February 5              ABCDE Monthly Membership Meeting, Nitschke's Ranch

ABCDE Monday Messenger

January 22, 2007

ABCDE – Better Together

Greetings!  This is the fiftieth edition of the Monday Messenger.  Its purpose is to bring you current information about the ABCDE project and area.  ABCDE consists of local residents from Atlanta, Burden, Cambridge, Dexter and Eastern Cowley County working together for community development.  If you have anything to submit for the newsletter, please send it to shannonthom@hotmail.com.  Thanks – Shannon Thom Martin

Metal Signs

Bud Henderson now has the capability to make metal signs in addition to the vinyl signs that he has been producing.  He provides a fast turn around time, high quality and low prices.  For more information, contact Bud at Jen’s Country Sign Shop at ochend@sktc.net.

Mark your Calendars!

There are two exciting events being planned in Eastern Cowley County for April. 

The first is the Eastern Cowley County Spring Farm and Ranch Tour on April 14 and 15.  This is a new event.  Last fall, a successful Fall Farm and Ranch Tour was held.  The hope is to hold a Spring and Fall tour each year.  For more information contact project leader Shannon Thom Martin (620) 876-3467 or shannonthom@hotmail.com.

The other new event will be held on April 28^th.  It will be the first ever Eastern Cowley County Area-wide Garage Sales and Flea Market.  Through the ABCDE organization, we are encouraging residents to hold a Garage Sale on this week.  If you would like more information, contact project leaders Yvonne Stone (620) 876-3374 or yvonne@sktc.net.

We Kan Conference

The Kansas Sampler Foundation will be sponsoring a We Kan! Conference on March 20-21.  The conference is designed to help make your town the best it can be at being itself.  The theme for this year is Explorer Tourism.  It will be held in Salina and the costs are $60 for We Kan! members and $85 for non-members.  To join We Kan! or the Kansas Explorers Club log on to www.kansassampler.org.  Registration forms are now available by calling The Kansas Sampler Foundation at (620) 585-2374.

Marketing Specialty Livestock Workshop

The Kansas Department of Commerce will be holding a workshop on Wednesday, January 31^st called “Marketing Specialty Livestock”.  The workshop to be held in Junction City will be from 8:00 – 5:30 at the Courtyard.  Its purpose is to assist those marketing specialty products such as bison, meat goats, dairy goats, llamas, emu, etc.  For more information call Becki Rhoades at (785) 296-3737 or visit www.kansascommerce.com.  

Kansas Downtown Development Association Training

The quarterly KDDA training will take place on January 29^th featuring a session called “Three Secrets of Hands-on Economic Revitalization for Downtown Districts”.  The training will take place in Topeka from 9 a.m. -5 p.m.  For more information contact Shannon Thom Martin (620) 876-3467 or Lonnie Stieben with SKT.  ABCDE is a member of KDDA.

Do you have an idea for a business?

Through 2007, business owners and those with business ideas have access to a Professional Business Coach.  His name is Jack Newcomb and he is available for free, confidential advice and he will even come to you.  Through the ABCDE program, we have joined the Quad EF project and have access to their business coach.  Many local banks, businesses and the County assisted to pay the Quad membership fee through December of 2007.  For more information contact Jack at (620) 249-2108.

Upcoming Activities/Events

January 29-30            Kansas Downtown Development Training, Topeka

January 31            Marketing Specialty Livestock Workshop, Salina

February 5              ABCDE Monthly Membership Meeting

ABCDE Monday Messenger

January 15, 2007

ABCDE – Better Together

Greetings!  This is the forty-ninth edition of the Monday Messenger.  Its purpose is to bring you current information about the ABCDE project and area.  ABCDE consists of local residents from Atlanta, Burden, Cambridge, Dexter and Eastern Cowley County working together for community development.  If you have anything to submit for the newsletter, please send it to shannonthom@hotmail.com.  Thanks – Shannon Thom Martin

Dues Implemented

At the annual meeting, the members of ABCDE voted to implement a $10 annual due fee.  The purpose of implementing dues was to provide a small pool of funds for miscellaneous expenses.  If you are interested in becoming a member of ABCDE, please send $10 dues to ABCDE, c/o Melissa Fraley, Treasurer, 24074 152^nd Rd., Burden, KS  67019.

From Connie Kimsey -

I would like to take this opportunity to invite any who are interested in helping with an event being planned by the Vision 20/20, Culture, Strategy 35 committee. This committee has been charged with the task of, as stated in Strategy 35, “encouraging diverse local cultural festivals and celebrations, leisure activities and sports”. The committee has decided to start with a Railroad Heritage Days weekend Festival, which will take place on the weekend of April 21^st. We invite any and all who would like to brainstorm for this event to join us at the Winfield Library, January 16^th, at 7:00pm. Please respond to this email, so we might have an idea of how many will attend. We are very excited about the possibility of having an event such as this and invite you “ALL ABOARD” for an interesting ride.  ckimsey@arkansascityks.gov

We Kan Conference

The Kansas Sampler Foundation will be sponsoring a We Kan! Conference on March 20-21.  The conference is designed to help make your town the best it can be at being itself.  The theme for this year is Explorer Tourism.  It will be held in Salina and the costs are $60 for We Kan! members and $85 for non-members.  To join We Kan! or the Kansas Explorers Club log on to www.kansassampler.org. 

Marketing Specialty Livestock Workshop

The Kansas Department of Commerce will be holding a workshop on Wednesday, January 31^st called “Marketing Specialty Livestock”.  The workshop to be held in Junction City will be from 8:00 – 5:30 at the Courtyard.  Its purpose is to assist those marketing specialty products such as bison, meat goats, dairy goats, llamas, emu, etc.  For more information call Becki Rhoades at (785) 296-3737 or visit www.kansascommerce.com.  

Kansas Downtown Development Association Training

The quarterly KDDA training will take place on January 29^th featuring a session called “Three Secrets of Hands-on Economic Revitalization for Downtown Districts”.  The training will take place in Topeka from 9 a.m. -5 p.m.  For more information contact Shannon Thom Martin (620) 876-3467 or Lonnie Stieben with SKT.  ABCDE is a member of KDDA.

WORKSHOP FOR ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEWERS

EMPORIA, Kan. - The Kansas Flint Hills, with their distinctive scenic landscape, have long harbored a unique and significant culture within the timeline of American history. Preserving this nationally significant heritage through the collection and preservation of the Kansas Flint Hills' heritage stories and oral histories is a goal of the Flint Hills Heritage Task Force.

To that end, the Flint Hills Heritage Task Force - part of the 22-county Flint Hills Tourism Coalition - will conduct a workshop on Wednesday, January 17, 2007, to train potential interviewers for the Flint Hills Heritage Stories oral history project. 

Registration information is available at the CBED Workshop website at
http://www.emporia.edu/business/cbedworkshops.php, by calling (620) 341-5345, or by sending an e-mail to Dr. Smith at: wsmith@emporia.edu. Registration by January 10 is requested and there is a $5 fee for participants. The Workshop will be held in the Roe Cross Conference Room, Cremer Hall on the ESU campus, from 1:30 to 4:00 p.m., January 17, 2007.

FREE Business Coaching

It’s free to you!!  For the next year, business owners and those with business ideas have access to a Professional Business Coach.  His name is Jack Newcomb and he is available for free, confidential advice and he will even come to you.  Through the ABCDE program, we have joined the Quad EF project and have access to their business coach.  Many local banks, businesses and the County assisted to pay the Quad membership fee through December of 2007.  For more information contact Jack at (620) 249-2108.

Upcoming Activities/Events

January 16            Railroad Heritage Days planning meeting, Winfield Library

January 17            Oral History Workshop, Emporia

January 18            QUAD EF Meeting

January 19            FHTC Meeting, Newton

January 29-30            Kansas Downtown Development Training, Topeka

January 31            Marketing Specialty Livestock Workshop, Salina

February 5              ABCDE Monthly Membership Meeting

ABCDE Monday Messenger

January 8, 2007

ABCDE – Better Together

Greetings!  This is the forty-eighth edition of the Monday Messenger.  Its purpose is to bring you current information about the ABCDE project and area.  ABCDE consists of local residents from Atlanta, Burden, Cambridge, Dexter and Eastern Cowley County working together for community development.  If you have anything to submit for the newsletter, please send it to shannonthom@hotmail.com.  Thanks – Shannon Thom Martin

2007 – New Year - New Faces

ABCDE held their first ever Annual Meeting last week in Burden.  Board and officer elections were held.  Congratulations to new board members – Angie Krepps, Ryan Rising, and JO Brown.  They will join current and re-elected board members – Shannon Thom Martin, Phillip Headrick, Carol Black, Melissa Fraley, Gary Headrick and Donna Martin.  New officers include – Phillip Headrick, chairman; JO Brown, vice-chairman;  Carol Black, secretary;  Melissa Fraley, treasurer, and Donna Martin, liaison.  Shannon Thom Martin will serve as Past Chairman, advising the new chairman and continuing as administrator of the Governor’s Pilot Project.   Lonnie Stieben from SKT and Leroy Alsup from the County were re-appointed as Ex Officio board members.

Thank You

A big thank you to the outgoing board members Kermit Headrick, Vicki Drake, and Jerry Ashenfelter.  As founding board members, they were instrumental in developing the organization.

Year One Accomplishments

During the Annual Meeting, a power point presentation outlined some of the project’s accomplishments over the last year.  Following are a few –

31 properties in Eastern Cowley County clean-up, renovated or demolished

11 businesses assisted by Jack Newcomb, QUAD Enterprise Facilitator

10 area-wide Town Hall meetings held

9 residents in New leadership positions

8 New Eastern Cowley County businesses

5 Eastern Cowley County graduates of Leadership Cowley County

3 business development workshops held

Dues Implemented

At the annual meeting, the members of ABCDE voted to implement a $10 annual due fee.  The purpose of implementing dues was to provide a small pool of funds for miscellaneous expenses.  If you are interested in becoming a member of ABCDE, please send $10 dues to ABCDE, c/o Melissa Fraley, Treasurer, 24074 152^nd Rd., Burden, KS  67019.

Marketing Specialty Livestock Workshop

The Kansas Department of Commerce will be holding a workshop on Wednesday, January 31^st called “Marketing Specialty Livestock”.  The workshop to be held in Junction City will be from 8:00 – 5:30 at the Courtyard.  Its purpose is to assist those marketing specialty products such as bison, meat goats, dairy goats, llamas, emu, etc.  For more information call Becki Rhoades at (785) 296-3737 or visit www.kansascommerce.com.  

ABCDE Website

Don’t forget to visit www.cowleynet.com for current ABCDE information.  Over the next year, the ABCDE organization will be revamping its website to contain both organizational and tourism information. 

Kansas Downtown Development Association Training

The quarterly KDDA training will take place on January 29^th featuring a session called “Three Secrets of Hands-on Economic Revitalization for Downtown Districts”.  The training will take place in Topeka from 9 a.m. -5 p.m.  For more information contact Shannon Thom Martin (620) 876-3467 or Lonnie Stieben with SKT.  ABCDE is a member of KDDA.

Marketing Ideas

How do you market your business, organization or event?  Consider these unique marketing maneuvers to help with your promotions.

Yard Signs – inexpensive and available from Bud Henderson, Dexter, ochend@sktc.net

Table Tents or Placemats at area restaurants

Announcement in Church bulletins

Magnetic signs on cars

Water bottle labels

WORKSHOP FOR ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEWERS

EMPORIA, Kan. - The Kansas Flint Hills, with their distinctive scenic landscape, have long harbored a unique and significant culture within the timeline of American history. Preserving this nationally significant heritage through the collection and preservation of the Kansas Flint Hills' heritage stories and oral histories is a goal of the Flint Hills Heritage Task Force.To that end, the Flint Hills Heritage Task Force - part of the 22-county Flint Hills Tourism Coalition - will conduct a workshop on Wednesday, January 17, 2007, to train potential interviewers for the Flint Hills Heritage Stories oral history project. 

Registration information is available at the CBED Workshop website at
http://www.emporia.edu/business/cbedworkshops.php, by calling (620) 341-5345, or by sending an e-mail to Dr. Smith at: wsmith@emporia.edu. Registration by January 10 is requested and there is a $5 fee for participants. The Workshop will be held in the Roe Cross Conference Room, Cremer Hall on the ESU campus, from 1:30 to 4:00 p.m., January 17, 2007.

FREE Business Coaching

It’s free to you!!  For the next year, business owners and those with business ideas have access to a Professional Business Coach.  His name is Jack Newcomb and he is available for free, confidential advice and he will even come to you.  Through the ABCDE program, we have joined the Quad EF project and have access to their business coach.  Many local banks, businesses and the County assisted to pay the Quad membership fee through December of 2007.  For more information contact Jack at (620) 249-2108.

Upcoming Activities/Events

January 17            Oral History Workshop, Emporia

January 18            QUAD EF Meeting

January 19            FHTC Meeting, Newton

January 29-30            Kansas Downtown Development Training, Topeka

January 31            Marketing Specialty Livestock Workshop, Salina

February 5              ABCDE Monthly Membership Meeting

To submit information for the newsletter, send an e-mail to Shannon Thom Martin at shannonthom@hotmail.com.

ABCDE Monday Messenger

January 2, 2007

ABCDE – Better Together

Greetings!  This is the forty-seventh edition of the Monday Messenger.  Its purpose is to bring you current information about the ABCDE project and area.  ABCDE consists of local residents from Atlanta, Burden, Cambridge, Dexter and Eastern Cowley County working together for community development.  If you have anything to submit for the newsletter, please send it to shannonthom@hotmail.com.  Thanks – Shannon Thom Martin, ABCDE Chairman

ABCDE Annual Meeting

The first Annual Meeting of the ABCDE-Better Together organization will take place tonight - Tuesday, January 2^nd at 7:00 p.m. in Burden.  The meeting will be held in Melissa Fraley’s building at the corner of Main and Highway 160.  A power point presentation of accomplishments will be shown.  Election of board members will also occur during the meeting. 

Marketing Specialty Livestock Workshop

The Kansas Department of Commerce will be holding a workshop on Wednesday, January 31^st called “Marketing Specialty Livestock”.  The workshop will be held from 8:00 – 5:30 at the Courtyard by Marriott in Junction City.  Its purpose is to assist those maketing specialty products such as bison, meat goats, dairy goats, llamas, emu, etc.  For more information call Becki Rhoades at (785) 296-3737 or visit www.kansascommerce.com.  

Kansas Downtown Development Association Training

The quarterly KDDA training will take place on January 29^th featuring a session called “Three Secrets of Hands-on Economic Revitalization for Downtown Districts”.  The training will take place in Topeka from 9 a.m. -5 p.m.  For more information contact Shannon Thom Martin (620) 876-3467 or Lonnie Stieben with SKT.  ABCDE is a member of KDDA.

WORKSHOP FOR ORAL HISTORY INTERVIEWERS

EMPORIA, Kan. - The Kansas Flint Hills, with their distinctive scenic landscape, have long harbored a unique and significant culture within the timeline of American history. Preserving this nationally significant heritage through the collection and preservation of the Kansas Flint Hills' heritage stories and oral histories is a goal of the Flint Hills Heritage Task Force.

To that end, the Flint Hills Heritage Task Force - part of the 22-county Flint Hills Tourism Coalition - will conduct a workshop on Wednesday, January 17, 2007, to train potential interviewers for the Flint Hills Heritage Stories oral history project.Registration information is available at the CBED Workshop website at
http://www.emporia.edu/business/cbedworkshops.php, by calling (620) 341-5345, or by sending an e-mail to Dr. Smith at: wsmith@emporia.edu. Registration by January 10 is requested and there is a $5 fee for participants. The Workshop will be held in the Roe Cross Conference Room, Cremer Hall on the ESU campus, from 1:30 to 4:00 p.m., January 17, 2007.

Burden Strings Group

Ed Shubert will be teaching strings lessons at Central School in Burden starting next year.  It is open to adults and students grades 4-12.  A meeting will be held on Jan. 4th regarding instrument rental and the program. Classes will start on Jan. 12. All classes will be on Friday mornings.  Contact Ed for more information at EShubert@usd462.org.

FREE Business Coaching

It’s free to you!!  For the next year, business owners and those with business ideas have access to a Professional Business Coach.  His name is Jack Newcomb and he is available for free, confidential advice and he will even come to you.  Through the ABCDE program, we have joined the Quad EF project and have access to their business coach.  Many local banks, businesses and the County assisted to pay the Quad membership fee through December of 2007.  For more information contact Jack at (620) 249-2108.

Upcoming Activities/Events

January 2            ABCDE Annual Meeting, Burden

January 18            QUAD EF Meeting

January 19            FHTC Meeting, Newton

January 29-30            Kansas Downtown Development Training, Topeka

To submit information for the newsletter, send an e-mail to Shannon Thom Martin at shannonthom@hotmail.com.