The Chamber Salutes......

VOLUNTEERS during National Volunteers Week April 27 –May 3. Volunteers are the heartbeat of the McCook Area Chamber of Commerce. Many Chamber projects, events and activities require volunteer help. We are very fortunate to have a strong core of volunteers who are willing to give of their time, talents and expertise to help us attain our objectives. Well over 100 Chamber volunteers were invited to attend our Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon held on May 1st at Pizza Hut/KFC/Taco Bell. We wish to again express our sincere appreciation for our volunteers. Thank You!

Educator of the Year Award

Active teachers, coaches, counselors and administrators from a nine county area in Kansas and Nebraska are eligible for the prestigious Educator of the Year Award offered each year by Mr. Allen Strunk, former owner/publisher of the McCook Daily Gazette. The purpose of the award is to encourage and recognize outstanding performance in the all-important field of education with special emphasis on motivating students to reach their highest potential. Utilizing a nomination and application process followed by a numerical scoring system, the McCook Area Chamber of Commerce Education Committee makes the annual selection from a very strong field of candidates. The quality of the applications is a tribute to the education field in general and more specifically the people who bear so much influence upon our future....our kids.

Quality of the applications for this year’s award was equally as strong as in past years. The Education Committee proudly presented the 2008 award to Mr. Charles Coleman, music instructor at McCook Elementary. Mr. Coleman has been a teacher for 33 years, most of which have been in the McCook School System. “There are a lot of teachers in the system that do an excellent job everyday,” he noted. Mary Dueland, Chairperson of the Education Committee presented Mr. Coleman a plaque and a sizeable monetary award just prior to the McCook High School graduation on May 11, 2008.

National Teacher Appreciation Week - May 4-11

Surprise expressions of pleasure greeted members of the McCook Area Chamber of Commerce Education Committee as they delivered candy bars to McCook teachers on May 6 in recognition of National Teacher Appreciation Week.. The candy bars, $100 Grand, symbolically expressed the sentiment that our teachers, paras and administrators are of great value to the lives of everyone they touch on a daily basis. They are charged with the task of shaping our future through the students they guide each and every day. The Education Committee delivered over 285 candy bars.

Eighth Grade Ag Tour

Many times we hear our young people say that they would like to come back home after they complete their college education but they just don’t see opportunities for them to find a career in their interest area in Southwest Nebraska. The McCook Area Chamber of Commerce Ag Task Force hosts an annual 8th grade ag tour to dispel that misnomer and to encourage the students to look deeper for those opportunities right in their own backyard. Agriculture is paramount to our livelihood in Southwest Nebraska and offers many opportunities to utilize knowledge in math, science, computers and so on. In addition, the tour provides a bridge between the farm and the city which allows a better level of understanding of rural vs. urban issues.

On April 30, eighth grade students from McCook Public Schools toured several area ag-related businesses. Those businesses included: Four Winds Animal Clinic, Red Willow Aviation, Frenchman Valley Coop, Tri-State Livestock, Southwest Implement, Three Star Dairy, Timmerman & Sons Feedlot and Olsen’s Agricultural Laboratory.

Olsen's Agricultural Laboratory

Four Winds Animal Clinic

Frenchman Valley Coop

The Chamber Salutes.....

the ag businesses who graciously took time from their hectic schedules to share information about their field of work and career opportunities available to the students. Also, we wish to thank the McCook Public Schools for their cooperation in allowing the students to be out of class for the Ag Tour and for providing bus transportation throughout the day. Special thanks to Ag Task Force members, Nikki Cappel (Terry Ellinger CPA), Alex Haag (AmFirst Bank) and Mark Friehe (Frenchman Valley Coop) for organizing the tour.

Leadership Institute Class Graduates

Leadership Institute 2008 Graduates

Nine months following a memorable retreat to Lincoln in September, 2007, sixteen members of the newly revived Leadership Institute graduated with the ceremonial banquet held on Wednesday, May 23, 2008.

Graduates and guests were treated to a Prime Rib or Caribbean Chicken entree at the Bieroc Café. Amy Been welcomed everyone in attendance followed by the invocation led by Amy Lester. Bill Burton, Chairperson of the Leadership Steering Committee, addressed the graduates and congratulated them on a successful year. He encouraged them to utilize the knowledge they had gained over the past nine months to help them in future leadership opportunities. The first high school graduates from McCook’s leadership program were encouraged to look for opportunities to return to their hometowns and noted that there was much to be proud of in Southwest Nebraska. Deon Leitner, class member, presented the Steering Committee with a written report on the project which the class has undertaken as a part of their graduation requirements. Work on the project, a bronze and cast concrete monument to be placed at the intersection of George Norris Avenue and B Street, will continue through the targeted completion date of July, 2010. The class plans the dedication to be a part of the Bison All Class Reunion. In recognition of their successful completion of the Institute, graduates were given engraved clocks as a keepsake.

The Leadership Institute, which is facilitated by the McCook Area Chamber of Commerce, is made possible through sponsorships from area businesses that understand and appreciate the value of the program. Sponsors for the 2008 class were: McCook Area Chamber of Commerce, Wells Fargo Bank, McCook National Bank, AmFirst Bank, Wagner Ford Mercury Toyota, Community Hospital, McCook Clinic, Pinpoint Communication and Wal-Mart Supercenter. Tuition for the high school students was provided by a generous contribution from Don and Alice Harpst, McCook. Graduates of the class include: Hank Lichtenwaldt, Amy Been, Amy Lester, Brenda Gillen, Pam Harsh, Troy Bruntz, Sue Hageman, Kimberly Miracle, Deon Leitner, Darryl Volquardsen, Janet Weber, Karen Shepherd, Cassie Spencer, Lisa Felker, Leigh Ann Miller and Brent McMurtrey.

Senator Mark Christensen Addresses Chamber Legislative Committee

Over twenty members of the Chamber Legislative Committee and other community members attended the Legislative Breakfast on May 8. The breakfast, held at the Country Kitchen restaurant, was hosted by the McCook Area Chamber of Commerce and the South Platte Chamber of Commerce. Senator Christensen spoke of the milestones achieved during the 2008 legislative session and noted those challenges that will face the legislators in the next year.

Members of the Chamber’s Legislative Committee meet each Thursday morning during the session at the Chamber office for a conference call with the Senator. The call presents the opportunity to monitor actions taken in our State Capitol which affect every individual and every business in the state. Attendees are invited to present concerns, to clarify interpretations of laws being considered and to express opinions regarding issues. Larry Eisenmenger, MNB Insurance, serves as the moderator for the committee.

Youthful Eyes Opened at Farm Safety Camp

Fifty-five excited youngsters between the ages of 8 and 11 learned about the safety hazards they might encounter on their farm, Grandpa’s farm or their acreage. They were cautioned to always remember “SAFETY FIRST”. Campers received camp t-shirts and sack lunches provided by the Chamber of Commerce and business sponsors as well as a first aid kit provided by Community Hospital and Farrell’s Pharmacy. Farm Credit Services provided drinks for the lunch. Wristbands were made available by McCook Speedway. Hazards demonstrated included: chemical safety, ATV safety, PTO and hydraulic safety, grain safety, vehicle safety, electrical safety and tornado safety. Campers also participated in two hazard identification activities. Topper Fossen, Indianola , Nebraska, spoke to the kids about the farm accident that changed his life. Twenty-five years ago, Topper was seriously injured when a large, round hay bale fell on him breaking his back. He is still paralyzed and confined to a wheelchair. Business sponsors include the following:

AmFirst Bank N.A Bradley Hoppens, DDS MS Dan Miller, CPA First Central Bank Frenchman Valley Coop Hometown Agency Janssen-Kool Honda L & B Johnson P.C. Linda Maiden Insurance

Marr Insurance McCook Clinic McCook National Bank MNB Insurance Olsen’s Agricultural Laboratory Red Willow Aviation Red Willow County Fairboard Red Willow Extension Services

Safety stations and demonstrations were provided by: Adams Bank & Trust, Red Willow County Extension Service, Community Hospital, Southwest Public Power District, McCook Fire & Rescue, Frenchman Valley Coop, Nebraska State Patrol, Southwest Implement, Nebraska Public Power District and Heskett Consulting-Monsanto. The McCook Public Schools FFA Chapter, as well as the Southwest Public Schools FFA Chapter assisted with the camp.

Scenes from the 2008 Farm Safety Camp

The Chamber Salutes.....

the Ag Task Force members who assisted with the Farm Safety Camp on May 28. We also appreciate the support of their employers who make it possible for them to do so on company time. Members available to help with the camp include: Mark Friehe and Leigh Hoyt (Frenchman Valley Coop), Craig Merrihew and Jason Hauxwell (McCook National Bank), Nikki Cappel (Terry Ellinger, CPA), Kim Schilling and Terri Coder (AmFirst Bank), Kurt Ringenberg (First Central Bank), Cherri Lashley (Farm Credit Services), Tim Wiebe (Adams Bank & Trust).