Dear Chamber Supporters:
It’s a little hard to grasp…me sitting down to write my last Connect with John note. I’ve reflected before…when you look up the definition of bittersweet in the dictionary – this is it!! I’ve been in this office exactly ten and one-half years…so many great memories. This has been an odd week for me…on many levels. Obviously being my last week is a bit surreal…add to this Sherri is on vacation and Ryland has been at a conference in Wichita all week. Can you believe they trusted me to run the office by myself for a week!?! It’s been pretty quiet…a lot of people stopped to wish me well – so, at least it hasn’t been boring. And too…there have been many things to transition such as bank accounts, official notifications, and switching signatures at the various locations and agencies with which we do business. I can’t help but think something has been forgotten or missed…but we’ll work it out going forward.
North 40 Photography:
Okay…here is something pretty neat – especially in a week when I’ve been in the office all week and don’t have much to regale. Josie Alexander’s North 40 Photograph business is a Chamber member. She also does most of our official picture taking…all the recent banquet pictures, the pictures in which we feature the community in our annual directory and many of our Chamber coffees are all her work. Additionally, she’s the receptionist at another Chamber member’s office, Davidson & Brown, CHTD. Typically, Josie’s art features rural scenes and country living…you can go here to see more of her photography. Her passion for documenting country and western lifestyle comes from her early years of being raised around farming and the rural way of life. Recently one of her pictures caught the eye of a national publication…Working Ranch, and one of her pictures was featured on the cover. You can click here to see the actual picture…Josie named the picture, “The Heeling Touch”.
Working Ranch magazine (click the link to view magazine)…at the bottom of page 4, you can see where credit is given to our very own Josie and North 40 Photography. Since its inception in 2006, the magazine has been a favorite and a trusted source for ranchers. The journal prides itself on being the only publication on the market today which reflects an intimate understanding of the life of an American rancher. They steer (no pun intended) clear of politics…but focus instead on the business and management practices of ranching, showcasing the people who make it all happen. Great job Josie…always fun when anyone local has a big accomplishment. I should think the Working Ranch magazine will be paying more attention to your photography going forward!!
LifeCare Center of Ottawa:
The LifeCare Center welcomed Chamber members this morning for coffee and to meet their new director, Kelsey Morris; see their building which is recently expanded and remodeled; and hear about all the services they provide (pictures here). Since 1993, LifeCare has been serving women, men, and their families…the faith-based organization is a non-profit, privately funded community pregnancy and family resource center which serves the Ottawa area with client advocates and medical professionals…all who are there to listen, provide facts, and share information to help families make informed decisions about their health and future. Many of the individuals and couples who walk through their door are facing an unexpected or unwanted pregnancy; sometimes it’s young parents who just need some type of support or resources…they are a wonderful source for this community!! All their consultations and services are confidential and free. Because they are privately funded, they are always needing donations…cash is appreciated, but also are children's items, toddler clothes, and diapers of all sizes are some of their biggest needs. Thanks to LifeCare for all the service you provide to Ottawa and surrounding area. (Here are the "short-timers" at the coffee this morning!!)
Mom’s 90th Birthday Party:
Last Sunday our entire extended family gathered (53 of us in total) to celebrate my mom’s (Peggy Coen) 90th birthday with a reception at her lifelong church, Trinity United Methodist (pictures here). It was a huge turnout…around 80 signed the book (not including family). A distant cousin who my mom has never met but has recently connected with came from Ankeny, Iowa. Mom felt really celebrated to have all her family in the same location. Mom is still very active for 90-years-old…she participates in several Ottawa Recreational classes, is active in her church and Bible study, hardly misses a performance at the Memorial Auditorium, enjoys activities and events at the library, goes to the occasional K-State football game, and does most of this with her good friend Pearl Jordan (who also is about to turn 90)! Good job Mom making it this far after raising us 4 kids…her mom (my grandma) lived to be 102! Mom might have a number of years yet!
Grandkid Birthday Parties too:
The day before we celebrated Mom, we celebrated the grandkid/cousin March birthdays at Forest Park for the day (pictures here)…beautiful spring day last Saturday – all 10 cousins came to help celebrate! These occasional nice days are giving me Spring Fever! We have 3 March babies…Lucy Renee (6) and Max Ellis (8) were both born on March 3, two years apart. And Anna Lynn (8) was born on March 22 the same year as Max. It’s always a great time when they all get together…they played basketball, played on the playgrounds, had a piñata (with plenty of candy), and several other outdoor games. They are at an age where they enjoy playing and go hard at it!! The adults enjoyed the warm weather and the kids being occupied so we could just visit.
Hamilton:
Cherry and I had a great evening out last Wednesday, traveling up to the Kansas City Music Hall to watch the Broadway presentation, Hamilton (couple pictures here). We’ve tried to catch it on Broadway a couple of times (where it ran 5-years straight)…but never could get tickets. When we saw it was coming to Kansas City we jumped at the chance. Many have seen it live…others have watched the Broadway filming of the play on Disney Plus. The story is set in the time of the Revolutionary War and tells the tale of the great friendship which morphed into bitter hate and eventually the infamous pistol duel between Aaron Burr and Alexander Hamilton. The show is a very humorous and an entertaining way to remember interesting historical facts regarding the early years of our republic. It is completely a musical…very few spoken words and is all newly composed contemporary music. It’s been selling out in KC every night…huge crowds! Here’s something fun…in this massive crowd of hundreds of people, we ran into Pete and Lisa Hornung-Johnson who many will remember as former Ottawans (in fact we purchased their home when they moved); and also my good friend Derek Schmidt, his wife Jennifer and their daughters. Totally random coincidental meetings, such as this, are fun…on a night we were having fun to begin with!!
Wrapping Up!!:
If you can’t tell I’ve had a slow week by the fact I’m writing mostly about my family activities, let me tell you, it’s been a bit of a slow week! But…it is actually what I’m looking forward to going forward. For those who have never seen the top of my desk, look at this!! The office is all ready for Ryland to move in Monday morning!!
And…let me remind you – I’m not saying goodbye; I’m still going to be around – just involved in different ways. If you want to get in touch with me, my email address is: johncoen56@gmail.com. Don’t hesitate to shoot me a quick note – I’m sure to respond. And who knows…maybe if something gets too controversial, Ryland will invite me to write a guest editorial. I’ve never been one to be afraid of wading into the fray!!
Since I began work at the Chamber, I’ve married all 3 of my daughters off, moved Todd to Colorado, back to Topeka and eventually to Ottawa where he works today, welcomed 10 grandchildren into the family and celebrated my Mom’s 90th birthday. Those are just the family memories. Together we’ve had many great achievements here at the Chamber too!! I will miss being involved in all the stirrings of the community on a daily basis…one thing great about being President of the Chamber – many times you are the first to know something big is about to happen!!
Thanks to all of you for all the great memories…as Augustus McCrae, on his deathbed, said to Captain Woodrow Call in the epic movie Lonesome Dove, “It’s been a hell of a party!!”
Be well my friends…
Onward ~ John
Immediate Past President/CEO
Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce
john@ottawakansas.org
785-242-1000
