What a week of weather! Record-breaking snowfall in some parts of the state, with over a half inch of ice firmly underneath it all. Hopefully you and your family have been able to stay safe from it all! Our office worked from home Monday and Tuesday to avoid the hazardous road conditions. I have a pretty strong feeling no one was going to be stopping by our office anyway… Unfortunately, these conditions postponed our first Chamber Coffee of the year at Ottawa Sanitation. But they were quick to find another date down the road. March 7th we will be out on W Wilson Street for their Chamber Coffee! I know they had to take measures to keep their employees safe this week, which can be a tough call to make, but ultimately the right one.
In times like these, the men and women who work to keep our roads clear, powerlines upright, and utilities working deserve heaps of praise. Thank you doesn’t really seem like enough! They have been working tirelessly for a week now, and we are beyond grateful. Thank you, City of Ottawa and Franklin County workers!
Kansas Expands U.S. Bicycle Routes
Though it’s not the time of year to take a bike ride, some news came out this week in the cycling community in Kansas. The state has added two new routes to the U.S. Bicycle Route System (USBR). The USBR is a growing national network of officially designated bike routes coordinated by the nonprofit Adventure Cycling Association (view full national network here). This organization is dedicated to promoting bike travel across the country and works closely with states to establish routes that enhance safety, accessibility, and tourism opportunities. USBR 55 is one of the two newest additions to Kansas, running 288 miles north to south from Irving, near the Nebraska state line, to Caney, on the Oklahoma border. Ottawa plays an important role along this route as one of the route’s highlights is the Prairie Spirit Trail. Local bike store owner, Jeff Carroll, was able to serve on a regional committee to help with this process. You can check out the route online here (click here to view). The addition of USBR 55 allows Ottawa to establish itself as a cycling-friendly community on the national level. Regardless of the temperature, we have the opportunity to offer a warm welcome to visitors while promoting active transportation for residents and tourists alike.
Full House for Chamber's Annual Banquet
Registration closed yesterday for next week’s Annual Awards and Banquet, finishing with attendance numbers beyond our expectations. Our membership has shown up in such a big way, as we will have over 230 individuals celebrating with us on Thursday evening! Leaving no more room for tables in the Schendel Conference Center on OU’s campus. Along with those amazing numbers, we are thrilled to see so many Chamber members stepping up to sponsor the event. We have 36 sponsors in total! With nine more sponsors than last year, Sherri and I, and the whole organization, feel so blessed. We have such an amazing business community―which calls for celebration! We’ve even called in “Chamber of Commerce Weather” as it looks like we’ll have one of the warmest days of the year so far with highs in the 40s (with the sun out, it might feel like summer). I’ll see you soon as we gather together at Ottawa University this coming Thursday!
Bid High, Bid Often
Along with our banquet, we are also very excited to have our annual auction start this coming Tuesday (1/14). This virtual silent auction includes items donated by our membership as a fundraiser for our organization. This is just another glimpse at the generosity of our members. With every item donated and every bid placed, our organization and the prosperity of our community are supported. The money raised here is directly poured back into the community in more ways than one. As we do every year, we have some super cool items. You can go ahead and save the auction site landing page by clicking the following link (check out the auction site here). You will be able to see all the items here soon, as we are just making our final touches! You do not need to be a member to bid, as this auction is open to all. Sharing our posts on Facebook or sending the link to friends and family is highly encouraged! Bidding is as easy as making a free account; just input your name, email, and phone number (if you’d like text notifications). We say to bid high and bid often. Don’t let any items slip past you on the final day (Monday 1/20 at 8pm).
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I want to make sure and take a moment as I am thanking road workers, auction item donators, and those who have bought tickets to the banquet, not to forget a special person on my team. Sherri Lund works so hard to make the events that take place in January special. I’m incredibly thankful for her hard work and dedication to this organization. When you see her Thursday, please pass on words of encouragement and thanks!
Ryland Miller
President/CEO
Ottawa Area Chamber of Commerce
ryland@ottawakansas.org
785-242-1000
