Leadership Institute Class Announced

The McCook Area Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce that the Leadership Institute Steering Committee has selected class members for the 2009-2010 year. Seventeen individuals were selected from a nomination list of nearly 80 potential participants. Selections were based on the following criteria:

• Individuals who express a desire to contribute both time and energy toward involvement in their community.

• An individual who has demonstrated prior volunteer involvement as well as desire and leadership.

• An individual who demonstrates an interest in and understanding of Southwest Nebraska.

• Individuals of diverse backgrounds, representative of as broad a base as possible, including sex, race, age and occupation.

The Leadership Institute Class of 2009-2010 will include the following individuals from the business community: Jason Grigg, Great Plains Communications; Brenda Lawless, WalMart Supercenter; Nick Nothnagel, C. T. Jewell Company, Inc.; Linda Dixon, Willow Ridge Retirement Community; Shannon Bricker, Wells Fargo Bank; Lonnie Lawson, Parker Hannifin; Lynn Soncksen, Hillcrest Nursing Home; Leanne Miller, Community Hospital; Colyn Suda, Southwest Public Power District; Jason Hauxwell, McCook National Bank; Diana Gross, Community Hospital; Stacy Priebe, AmFirst Investments; Chad Lyons, McCook Public Schools and Sharon Kircher; McCook Community College. Students from McCook High School include: Hailey Esch, Elise Polly and Erin Premer.

The class will attend their first organizational meeting at noon on June 17, at the Pizza Hut meeting room where they will learn details about the upcoming year and look at possible dates for their retreat to Lincoln in the fall. Steering Committee members include: Clark Bates, McCook Christian Church; Bill Burton, Wells Fargo Bank; Pam Harsh, McCook Area Chamber of Commerce; Jason Schmick, Schmick’s Market; Angela Wagner, McCook National Bank and Janet Weber and Doug Joyce, McCook Community College.

The Leadership Institute program would not be possible without the support of the sponsors. Sponsors for the 2009-2010 Class include: McCook Area Chamber of Commerce, Community Hospital, Wells Fargo Bank, McCook Community College, McCook National Bank, AmFirst Bank, N.A., First Central Bank and the McCook Optimist Club.

Leadership Institute Graduates Class of 2009

Keynote Speaker  Clark Bates		Doug Joyce presents the Class Project	Gabe Sehnert, son of Mr. & Mrs. Matt Sehnert, assisted his Dad with serving of the banquet meal.

The graduation banquet for members of the 2009-2010 Leadership Institute Class was held on Thursday, May 14, at Sehnert's Bakery & Bieroc Cafe. Each graduate received a gift in recognition of their participation in the class over the past nine months. Leadership Steering Committee member, Clark Bates, was the keynote speaker.

Class members include: Back Row L-R, Doug Joyce, Michael Pruter, Stephen Smock, Matt Carriker, Lyle Brown; Middle Row L-R Jason Schmick, James Beebe, Lynn Driml-Pinkal, Mary Seybold, Velda Ferguson, Terri Shipshock, Virginia Fickle; Front Row L-R, Kyle Potthoff, Austin Larson, Mary Spilinek, Brooke Burton, Heather Bieker. Not pictured: Mike O'Dell

“Educator of the Year” Award Announced

Photo courtesy of McCook Daily Gazette

The McCook High School graduation on Sunday, May 10, provided the backdrop for the announcement of the selection for the annual “Educator of the Year” award funded by Allen Strunk, former editor/publisher of the McCook Daily Gazette and facilitated by the McCook Area Chamber of Commerce Education Committee. Donita Priebe was this year’s award winner. Ms. Priebe was selected from a field of very well-qualified educators. As band instructor, Ms. Priebe has instilled a passion for music in her students and has grown the MHS Band significantly in the past 3 years. She has garnered the respect and admiration of her students, her peers and the McCook community. Congratulations, Donita, for a job well done!

New Chamber Officers and Board Members Declared

The McCook Area Chamber of Commerce will soon begin their new fiscal year (July 1) and must determine the make-up of the Chamber Board of Directors and Executive Officers for the 2009-2010 year. The Nominating Committee appointed by the Chamber President, Janet Weber, recommended Tyler Schmick (Schmick's Market), Melanie Goodenberger (Century 21 Golden Plains Realty) and Wil Midkiff (Parker Hannifin) for three year terms on the Chamber Board.

According to the procedures outlined in our by-laws, nomination letters were sent out to our membership this past month. No additional nominees were brought forward and at the regular May board meeting, the candidates were unanimously declared elected. They will be seated at our June meeting and officially assume their position at the July meeting. We are excited to welcome the new faces to our board and would also like to thank Stacy Priebe for accepting an extension of his term for three years. Also at the meeting, Kristin Stagemeyer, our new Board President effective July 1, announced her one-year appointments for the 09-10 fiscal year: Duane Tappe and Sharleen Riemenschneider.

Stepping up to serve as Chamber Board members speaks volumes for the dedication our board members have to the Chamber and to our community. Their work through the Chamber is purely volunteer. We also want to express our sincere appreciation to the Chamber member businesses where these board members are employed for allowing them the opportunity to be involved to this degree.

Celebration Noted with $100 Grand Candy Bars

The McCook Area Chamber of Commerce Education Committee delivered 280 candy bars on Tuesday, May 5, to McCook teachers in recognition of National Teacher Appreciation Week. The special $100 Grand candy bars were symbolic of the “value” we place on those individuals in the education field who shape our futures through shaping our children. Duane Tappe, Father Brethour, Linda Wood, Janet Weber, Margaret Repass and Chamber Director, Pam Harsh helped with the task.