1511 Fulton Terrace, Garden City, KS 67846 Tel: 620-276-3264 Fax: 620-276-3290

Chamber Committees and Task Forces

Ambassadors/Member Services

Chairman: Grant Elpers, A.G. Edwards & Sons
Vice Chair: Krista Monical, Landmark National Bank
Board Liaison: Kathy Diehl, American State Bank

This committee acts as the goodwill arm of the Chamber.
Goals of this committee are:

Assist with implementation of the Chamber Banquet
Assist with the Chamber Golf Tournament
Attend and assist monthly Membership Breakfasts
Attend the 3i Show.
Attend the business after hour's events.
Develop Ambassadors guidelines
Participate in the Meals on Wheels program
Promote the Chamber and all its activities
Represent the Chamber at ribbon cuttings, ground breaking ceremonies and other public functions

Beautification

Chairman: Alan Riedel, Land Title & Abstract Services, Inc.
Board Liaison: Bob Sperling, Office Solutions, Inc.

This committee identifies areas of the community in need of attention, improvement or enhancement, and works with various entities to affect changes in those areas.
Goals of this committee are:

Continue Beautification recognition for businesses showing an incentive to make permanent and sustainable improvements to the appearance of their locations.
Research and develop a list of projects for the City of Garden City, Finney County and Holcomb to submit for grant funding.
Develop a business education program focusing on improving the appearance of Garden City and Holcomb.
Encourage the Chamber Government Affairs Committee to find funding at the State and Federal level for beautification projects and beautification projects including public art.
Continue to explore and encourage options to expand directional signage around the area through a Master Plan for signage.
Recommend the improving of landscaping and adding sidewalks to Jones Avenue west of 5-points.
Continue to encourage curriculum for use in the schools concerning beautification.
Work with Chamber's C.A.R.E. Committee to request the addition of a question on the Crystal Apple application that asks about beautification and environmentally friendly programs

Business Visitation

Chair: Mary Guy, Critter Sitters LLC
Board Liaison: Scott Taylor, St. Catherine Hospital

This committee makes personal contact with Chamber members, asking for their opinions about Chamber programs and current business trends.
Goals of this committee are:

Strive to visit every active member within 24 months.
Thank members for their support.
Encourage members to attend Chamber activities.
Identify business trends within the business community.
Solicit suggestions for improvement for business in general, for their business in particular, and for the quality of life in the Finney County area.
Identify potential economic development prospects.
Recruitment of new members to the committee.

C.A.R.E. (Community Awareness and Recognition in Education) Task Force

Co-Chairs: Janice Stephens, PrimeTime Sports and Roy Cessna, Garden City Public Schools
Board Liaison: Craig Wheeler, Commerce Bank

This task force organizes and coordinates the recognition of six outstanding teachers in Finney County for their efforts in preparing children for the workplace.
Goals of this committee are:

Secure financial support for the program through area businesses and organizations.
Update and distribute the Crystal Apple Teacher Recognition nomination form to Finney County residents.
Organize and monitor the selection process for the Crystal Apple Teachers including application screening, personal interviews and classroom observations.
Organize the Crystal Apple Teacher Recognition Awards Banquet.

Finney County Convention and Tourism Bureau

Chairperson: Leo Hanneman, Garden City Auto Parts
Board Liaison: Deb Hayes, Sunflower Electric Power Corporation

The Bureau, operating under the Chamber umbrella through proceeds of a transient guest tax, has the important task of soliciting and promoting conventions and tourism. An advisory committee for the Bureau has identified several specific goals for 2006 and beyond.

Actively seek and create events to increase the number of weekend travelers to Garden City. Develop weekend packages with lodging properties and other community entities.
Actively market Garden City to Garden City and the region to enhance community pride and awareness.

Government Affairs

Chair: Maxine Atkinson, ARC Real Estate Inc.
Board Liaison: Roy Dixon, Highlands Livestock Service

This committee provides Chamber members with information about legislation and provides access to legislators.
Goals of this committee are:

Research issues that affect the local business community and provide information through e-mail or list serve technology to inform members about those issues.
Communicate with local business people and acquire input on issues that are most important to local business owners.
Provide education and resources to business people for the purpose of encouraging well-informed participation at the local, state, federal levels of the legislative process.
Monitor issues and member input for the purpose of developing positions on important issues for the purpose of encouraging positive actions from elected officials.
Host Legislative Coffees and other events that give business people opportunities to interact with area legislators from all levels of government.
Meet with legislators in Topeka and Washington to discuss the need for business friendly legislation and to discuss the effects of specific bills that are presented at the state and federal levels.

Leadership Garden City

Chairs: Shonda Collins, Wheatfields On Main, Inc & Mark Welch, Finney County Sheriffs Office
Board Liaison: Dena Sattler, The Garden City Telegram

Leadership Garden City was started in 1989 to educate potential community leaders about their community and its challenges, and to provide leadership skills training for people interested in getting more involved in the community. It has evolved into several levels of leadership and facilitation training, focusing on 21st Century Leadership skills and capacities.
Goals of Leadership Garden City are:

Serve as a leadership source providing resources and training to the community.
Offer the "Every Voice" class at least two different times throughout the year.
Recruit a broader scope of participants from the community.
Offer the "Common Ground" class, an advanced leadership program of Leadership Garden City, the Every Voice class serving as a prerequisite.
Provide 21st Century Youth Leadership training in conjunction with the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Leadership Program and/or other youth programming.
Participate in the annual Kansas Health Foundation opportunities.
Continue to market programs in order to make our community leader-full.
Offer advanced facilitation training on a periodic basis.
Provide information to the business community about the importance of early childhood development and its effect on our future workforce, with the help of grant funding from cooperation with Kansas Action for Children/Kansas Health Foundation.
Talk to clubs, organizations and social service agencies about the kind of leadership communities will need to be successful in the future.

Task Forces

Multi-Cultural Task Force

Chair Person: RosaLinda Cervantes, Commerce Bank
Board Liaison: Roy Dixon, Highlands Livestock Service

The Multicultural Task Force strives to promote participation from the entire minority business community, senior and young members, in the Chamber and its committees and projects. The task force researches avenues in getting more participation in other cultures and minority groups.
Present Goals are:

Invite multicultural participation in Chamber committees/activities and reciprocate in others' cultural and business events.
Continue the sub-committee for the bilingual business classes.
Plan and organize Multicultural Networking Events giving businesses, members and non-members, an opportunity to promote their business and network among each other.