Dear Chamber Supporters,
Happy early Mother’s Day to all the moms out there! Even though we really should be celebrating you all 365 days of the year, we take this day to really consider all the goodness that comes from you all. Mother’s Day isn’t just a time for verbal gifts either; Americans spend over 35 billion dollars on our moms annually during this holiday. It’s worth mentioning that this figure is 30% higher than the Father’s Day counterparts… I’m not sure if that’s because dads are cheaper to shop for or maybe because we all have less money to spend when it comes around later in June. Either way, don’t forget to call/text/hug the moms in your life this weekend. <3
Pocket Change for Community Change
Last Saturday, our community experienced the first-ever Piccadilly auction event in Ottawa, put on by our Ottawa Main Street Association. This annual fundraiser is a way to support our downtown organization while having some real fun on a Saturday morning (pictures here of our crew). The event, which coincided with the Kentucky Derby (congrats Mystik Dan), was a derby-themed affair. If you’re unfamiliar with a Piccadilly auction, you are not alone! I was in the same boat just a week ago, but the OMSA helped guide us through the process while those in attendance enjoyed our brunch hors d'oeuvres and morning mimosas. A Piccadilly is a fast-moving live auction where you can win valuable items for just quarters. When an item you’re interested in is up for grabs, you throw your quarters in the jar on your table and then hope the massive hopper pulls out your number (hopper in question). If you’re lucky, you can walk away with a certificate for a year’s worth of Maria’s Mexican Café breakfast burritos like I did! Or maybe some décor, Ju Jitsu lessons, Royals tickets, or a dozen Pizza Time pizzas. There were so many great items donated by businesses here in Ottawa; it’s safe to say it was a massive success! Thank you to all those who donated items and the committee who volunteered countless hours organizing this fun event. You’ll want to make sure to grab a ticket next year; I bet they sell out fast!
Highlighting Community Care with LifeCare
Last Tuesday, I had the privilege of joining over two hundred community members at this year’s LifeCare Center Banquet (picture here). The event space on Ottawa University’s campus was packed to the brim with those supporting this nonprofit organization, a testament to the impact they have in our community. Since 1993, LifeCare has been a beacon of hope, serving women, men, and their families. Their mission, primarily focused on the Ottawa area, has consistently expanded to new communities that have a need for their services. LifeCare is staffed by client advocates, nurses, and a robust volunteer base that allows their work to reach hundreds of lives each year, often in some of the most vulnerable stages of their lives. One of the aspects that really sets LifeCare apart is its ability to meet its clients' medical, educational, spiritual, and physical needs at no cost. The way they are able to provide these services―and grow all the while, is from the extremely generous donations by individuals and businesses in the community. This banquet on Tuesday night was a way for these donors to be celebrated while also taking in all the outstanding accomplishments that occurred over this past year. Sharing statistics, client testimonies, and life-changing experiences were all on offer. If you are interested in learning more about the way LifeCare impacts the lives of families in our community, I know Executive Director Kelsey Morris, would love to share how they have, and continue to do just that. I wish this wonderful organization many years of success!
Lighting Up Minds at Local Lit Fest
I had the chance to step back on Ottawa University’s Campus Wednesday as they hosted the 2024 Children’s Literature Festival. This event is an affiliate of The Friends of the Ottawa Library and highlights some fantastic authors/illustrators/storytellers from around the nation who come to Ottawa to share their work with 3rd- 5th graders (see these presenters here). This day of literature is designed to celebrate the magic of storytelling, encourage a lifelong love of reading, and contribute to the educational and cultural development of children in the community. By bringing together widely known presenters, the festival provides young readers with the opportunity to engage directly with the creators of the stories they love or may come to love. This interaction can deepen their appreciation for literature and inspire them to explore their own creativity through writing or drawing.
An annual event of this magnitude requires tremendous planning, but the Ottawa Library and The Friends step up to the plate year after year and do it with class. Executing this event has its own set of unique challenges―it goes without saying that facilitating a single class of students can be a lot to handle, let alone over 500 kids throughout the day. With the help of the class teachers, these kids stay organized and tuned in to the presentations at hand. With the help of library staff and volunteers, these groups move seamlessly from one speaker to the next. All the while, this still needs to be funded somehow, and that’s where this amazing group of sponsors comes in (pictures here of sponsors). When you add all this up (planners, executors, sponsors), you have a full-day experience of educational fun!
Sipping New Success with New Owner – Jarrod Watkins
Arrowhead Nutrition has been located on E 1st St. in Ottawa for over two years now, with the goal of promoting wellness through a range of delicious shakes and teas. Oklahoma resident Sarah Culie started this business in our town while commuting to and from her home in Oklahoma back in 2022. This morning, we were able to celebrate the transfer of ownership to entrepreneur Jarrod Watkins (pictures here). Though Jarrod has only owned the store for three months, this has been a year-long process in the making―working under Sarah in preparation to own/manage the store. Having previously worked in Lawrence for over a decade for a national company, Jarrod longed for the opportunity to have the flexibility and responsibility of owning his own business. This chance was snatched up and now, Jarrod has been able to build on the momentum that has been growing over the last couple of years.
If you are unfamiliar with Arrowhead Nutrition's products, they don’t look like typical shakes from ice cream parlors or traditional Arnold Palmer teas. Arrowhead offers a contemporary selection of colorful and health-focused beverages. These drinks are delicious but also aim to support weight management and overall wellness. Utilizing Herbalife products, these fifty-some tea flavors can be combined to create countless drink options―providing a boost of energy and promoting alertness, often containing ingredients like green tea extract and caffeine. Their shakes can act as meal replacements, providing essential nutrients while managing calorie intake. What starts as a powder gets mixed in front of you with water, milk, or other liquids to create a nutritious shake (delicious, too). These shakes usually contain a blend of proteins, vitamins, and minerals to support satiety and muscle recovery. All of these drink options can be ordered and picked up in their modern downtown location at 107 E 1st Street.
Even with hundreds of drink options, Jarrod is still pursuing ways to differentiate himself and his business. This looks like some exciting new additions, including drink delivery, that will be unveiled here in just a few weeks. Where individuals can order drinks through their new app and then, based on their order time, get their drink brought to them! Another way he stands out is his intentionality when hiring help. When you get a drink made at Arrowhead Nutrition, you’re always working with a current or future entrepreneur. Jarrod works with these staff on what it takes to own a business, with the hopes that they will be future small business owners themselves. I love this mindset and the fact that it exists here in Ottawa. Jarrod could choose to run this business in any community, but the fact that he wants to do it here in ours is special.
Sharing Sweetness Each Week
I felt extra special yesterday when community advocate and Chamber board person Betty Birzer dropped by our office with a few dozen donuts (pictures here). Betty and Daylight Donuts started a community recognition program in 2021, where donuts were shared with unsung heroes who worked extra hard during the pandemic. What began with those first responders grew to include other community “do-gooders” and never stopped. Three years later, once a week, several groups in the community get recognized through the Donuts for Do-Gooders program, and as the name suggests, it comes with some donuts to the individual or group being awarded. Those awarded are drawn from a hat of ongoing nominations that can be made by messaging Daylight Donuts on Facebook or via email. As a result, my name was chosen, and I got the privilege of receiving donuts and getting to see our good friend Betty. It's impossible to have a frown on your face while eating a donut; thanks for spreading smiles, ladies!
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If you read through this newsletter, each blurb has a common message. There is so much kindness shared in this community―whether for events, organizational missions, or sometimes even convection treats. You don’t have to look far to see neighbors supporting one another. In a time where it is so easy to get caught up in the negatives on national TV or social media, these reminders are regular beacons of hope!
Another reason to celebrate is the 23/24 class graduating this weekend. Congratulations to all the students and families who can marvel at these accomplishments over the next few weeks, whether at a grad party or watching students walk across the stage. This weekend's spring weather looks perfect for a graduation, a Mother’s Day gathering, and anything else you might have going on. Talk to you soon!
Ryland Miller
President/CEO
Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce
ryland@ottawakansas.org
785-242-1000
