Inside - De Soto

Monthly
Update
WWW.DESOTOKS.ORG
FEB. 2015
JT’s Grill & Sports Bar Named 2014 Chamber Member of the Year
Congratulations to Scott Hill, owner of JT’s Grill & Sports Bar
for his company being names 2014 Chamber Member of the
Year. JT’s was honored for their commitment to Great American
Bank’s Night on the Kaw – A Country Music Festival. In
addition, JT’s is home to several Chamber-related activities
throughout the year.
JT’s Grill & Sports Bar added outside seating in late 2014 to
accommodate additional customers. They often have
entertainment several nights of the week and are supportive of
community activities and events.
The De Soto Chamber of Commerce also recognized Frenzel’s BBQ, Custom Foods, Inc., Paramount Promotions –
Christine Hohenshell, Barks & Bubbles – Margie Petroskey and Extra Mile recipient Lori Murdock, Cedar Creek
Pharmacy and Chamber Ambassador of the Year Stephanie Swenson with GreatLife Golf & Fitness.
De Soto Rotary Club to Host Evening Program
The De Soto Rotary Club invites you to their evening program for February
featuring Jim McGraw, a former Marion Laboratories executive and one of
Ewing Kauffman’s inner circle – overseeing the operations of one of the
country’s most successful companies. http://leappahead.com/. There is no
charge to attend.
What’s
Inside:
President’s Report ......................... 2
From the Director’s Corner ............. 2
Luncheon Update .......................... 3
Mayor Meets with Community....... 3
De Soto Library Update .................. 3
Annual Dinner Recap ..................... 5
February 12, 2015 at De Soto VFW
6:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Cocktail hour
7:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Program
USD 232 Update ............................ 6
Membership Invoice ...................... 7
Calendar of Events ......................... 9
RSVP to lorimurdock@att.net by February 9th
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President’s Update
From the Director’s Corner
by Mike Rogers Chamber President
by Sara Ritter, IOM, Executive Director
WOW!!! What a great Chamber dinner.
With the help of our underwriters and
the hard work of the board volunteers,
we have achieved excellence in another
event in De Soto. With great pride I
would like to thank Julie Coover for her
leadership in making this event
possible.
Way back in 2012, when I had the honor serving as your
Chamber President, my message was “Think Chamber
First.” I still believe in this principle. The De Soto
Chamber has many members with great products and
services.
I am asking each and every member to take a moment and
think about what your expectations are for your Chamber
and put them to action. Julie Coover has created
Committees which will focus on efforts such as
Membership, Fundraising, Networking, Finance, Business
Recognition, New Members and more. These committees
will have a direct focus on their particular interest.
With that, I am challenging you to consider signing up to
be on the Committee of your choice. The first Committee
Meeting is Membership and is scheduled for Monday,
February 16th at 11:30 a.m. at the Chamber Offices.
ALL members are encouraged to attend and learn about
the wonderful trip incentives that will be available for
Committee Members hitting a particular benchmark. For
more information, contact Julie Coover at 913-583-1219
jcoover@amfam.com or Sara Ritter at 913-583-1585
sritter@desotoks.org.
This is your chance to get involved and keep your Chamber
strong and growing. I’ve found many benefits of being
involved in the Chamber and I’m confident that your
company will benefit as well.
We’re off to a great start and I look forward to seeing you
at the February 12th Chamber Luncheon featuring Mayor
Tim Maniez and his State of the City Address.
Thank you to all of the Members who
have remitted your 2015 Chamber
Dues! Reminder notices were mailed
mid-January to those that have not
remitted their dues. All paid members
will be included in the popular 2015
Chamber Membership Directory. We
will begin to prepare the directory in
the next month, so we need your help
in securing your membership as soon as possible so that
your company will be included. If you have any questions
regarding your membership dues or would like to remit
your dues via credit card, please contact the Chamber
Office today at 913-583-1585.
Back by popular demand is a prepay package for
luncheons which are held on the 2nd Thursday of each
month. Members who remit their dues in advance for the
year will receive a reduce rate and a free lunch in 2015 for
only $100 for the year. Lunches must be used in 2015 and
cannot be carried over into the following year. The fee for
members who pay at the door or are invoiced after the
luncheon is $12. Cancellations cannot be accepted within
24 hours of the luncheon and no-shows will be invoiced.
This popular program is designed to expedite the
registration process for the members at the luncheon as
well as saving our valued members money. Any member
who wants to take advantage of this opportunity should
contact Maureen by February 23rd. Thank you in advance
for your help and cooperation!
CA$H Mobs will be conducted soon. Let us know if you
are interested in attending an upcoming CA$H Mob. We
like to surprise our businesses and shower them with
Chamber members spending their money in our local
economy. If you haven’t participated, it is a fun
networking event and helps you get to know your fellow
member businesses.
The Chamber is committed to increasing exposure for
your business and providing unique networking
opportunities for you. Thank you for joining us again for
another exciting year!
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February Chamber Luncheon to
Feature State of the City Address
De Soto Mayor Tim Maniez will provide
his annual State of the City Address to
the Chamber Membership on Thursday,
February 12, 2015 at the USD 232
District Offices at 11:30 a.m.
A very special thank you to our luncheon underwriter KBS
Constructors and our host USD 232. Grandma’s Catering
will be providing lunch and it is essential to have each
attendee RSVP to ensure adequate food. Please RSVP to
Maureen
at
913-583-1585
or
via
e-mail
at
mbefort@desotoks.org. Cost to attend is $12/members
and $17/non-members.
MORE THAN JUST BOOKS!
There’s still time to enter your bookmark art in the
National Library Week Bookmark Contest. Winners will
see their lovely designs on bookmarks available at all of
our Neighborhood Libraries. From preschoolers to
adults, there are different age categories each with their
own winner. Entries are due Feb. 28, 2015.
Print out your entry form at :
http://jocolibrary.org/sites/default/files/EntryForm2015.pdf or
pick up a form at any Johnson County Library.
Printed Membership
Directory Deadline
Approaching
We’re more than just books!
March 31st is the deadline to submit your ads for the 2015
Chamber Membership Directory. This popular marketing
tool is handed out to your fellow members, new residents
and existing residents who utilize this as their De Soto
phonebook.
As mentioned previously, there is NO INCREASE in this
service for 2015. Below are your advertising options:
Business Card Size, 3.5” x 2.0 “
Half Page Ad, 4.5” x 3.5”
Full Page Ad, $4.5” x 7.5”
$65.00
$190.00
$365.00
Mayor to Host
Informal GetTogether Events
with Community
Mayor Tim Maniez will host a series of informal gettogethers to share updates on city happenings to get
feedback from residents in issues important to them. If
you are interested in hosting a gathering of friends and
neighbors at your home in the coming weeks, please
contact Mayor Tim Maniez at 913.636.3609 or City
Administrator Cynthia Wagner at 913.586.5252.
Members MUST remit their membership dues prior to
this deadline to receive their FREE listing. This will be
strictly enforced this year with no exceptions.
Information will be downloaded from the online
membership directory at www.desotoks.org. All Members
should log in and confirm that their information is correct
prior to the deadline. After this date the information will
be used from the website for the printed directory.
For more information, or to place an ad, please contact
Sara Ritter at 913-583-1585 or via e-mail at
sritter@desotoks.org.
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Thank you for a wonderful 2015 De Soto Chamber of Commerce Annual Dinner!
Julie Coover Agency
Mike’s Liquor
De Soto Arts Council
Mary Kay – Jill Davis
Ridgeview Eye Care
Frenzel’s BBQ
Steve’s Meat Market
Kansas Land Management
Marquette Physical Therapy
Keller Williams Legacy Partners – Kris Johnson
Mary Guntert
McDonald’s
Fireside BBQ
Barks & Bubbles
Time Warner Cable
Hillside Village of De Soto
Johnson County Community College
Caring for My Skin
Martin Marietta Materials
JRC CPA, LLC
JT’s Grill & Sports Bar
Terra Firma
Epoxy Floors by Welch
Villa Capri Pizza
Tracker Doors
WWW.DESOTOKS.ORG
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Voters Approve Local Option
Budget Election
Overwhelming support for schools
Dear USD 232 Families, Colleagues and Patrons:
The school district wishes to express sincere thanks and appreciation to the members of our communities for passing
the Local Option Budget Election. According to unofficial figures from the Johnson County Election Office, voters
overwhelmingly passed the LOB question by a level of 81 percent to 19 percent with a voter turnout of 34 percent.
“We are tremendously grateful for the strong and continued support of our communities,” said Superintendent Doug
Sumner. “We clearly recognize how essential this support is to the ongoing efforts of our staff who work tirelessly to
provide the highest quality education possible for our students. Thank you for demonstrating that support through this
election.”
The Johnson County Election Office is expected to release official final numbers following its canvass on February 2.
Two teachers receive 2015 Kansas Horizon Award
Katherine Wilber of Monticello Trails Middle School and Taylor Newman of Prairie Ridge Elementary
are Horizon Award winners
The Kansas State Department of Education (KSDE) announced the recipients of the 2015 Kansas Horizon Award, which
recognizes exemplary first-year educators. Katherine Wilber of Monticello Trails Middle School and Taylor
Newman of Prairie Ridge Elementary are among 32 first-year educators from around the state who received this
distinction. Both will be honored at a special ceremony during the Kansas Exemplary Educators Network (KEEN) State
Education Conference on Feb. 20, 2015 in Topeka.
Katherine Wilber teaches at Monticello Trails Middle School and Taylor Newman teaches at Prairie Ridge Elementary.
The Kansas Horizon Award program, which is sponsored by KSDE, allows all school districts in the state an opportunity
to nominate one elementary and one secondary teacher for the award. To be eligible for the award, teachers must have
successfully completed their first year of teaching and have performed in such a way as to distinguish themselves as
outstanding. The program is a regional competition with four regions corresponding to the state’s U.S. Congressional
districts. Four elementary and four secondary classroom teachers may be selected for the award from each region.
Recipients of the 2015 Kansas Horizon Award were notified of their selection by Interim-Commissioner of Education,
Brad Neuenswander. Neuenswander remarked, “I want to extend my congratulations to the recipients of the Kansas
Horizon Award. These new educators have taken on the challenge of helping all of our students learn to their fullest
potential, and I am excited by the quality of individuals we bring to our classrooms each year. I commend each of the
award recipients for their dedication to making a difference in the lives of their students.”
As recipients of the Kansas Horizon Award, these educators are invited to join the Kansas Exemplary Educators
Network (KEEN), a network of educators from around the state who have been formally recognized for exemplary
performance. Members of KEEN have an opportunity to network with other outstanding educators and participate in a
number of professional development programs throughout the year.
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De Soto Chamber of Commerce Luncheon
Thursday, February 12, 2015
11:30 a.m.
Location:
USD 232 District Offices
35200 W. 91st Street, De Soto, KS 66018
KBS Constructors
$12/members and $17/non-members
Underwriter:
Cost:
RSVP’s required to ensure adequate food - call 913-583-1585 or e-mail mbefort@desotoks.org
February, 2015
Sunday
1
Monday
2
Tuesday
3
Wednesd Thursday
4 ay
5
Friday
6
De Soto City
Council Meeting
9
10
11
Member
Committee 11:30
16
13
14
20
21
27
28
Chamber
Luncheon
11:30 a.m.
USD #232 Offices
$12/members
RSVP required
USD 232 Board
6:00 p.m.
35200 W. 91st St.
15
12
7
Mr. Stinky Feet
3 p.m. – 4 p.m.
De Soto United
Methodist
Church - FREE
7:00 p.m.
De Soto City Hall
8
Saturday
17
18
19
De Soto City
Council Meeting
7:00 p.m.
De Soto City Hall
22
23
24
25
26
Items in Bold
are Chamber
Events
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