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Abilene Area Chamber of Commerce
Abilene Reflector Chronicle
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Calendar of Events
"LIBERTY (OH FATAL AMBITION)" - Brown Bag Documentary
Tue, Nov 1st @ 12:00pm
Eisenhower Presidential Library & Museum
Visitors Center
(785) 263-4751
BI-ANNUAL CHAMBER MEMBERSHIP MEETING
Tue, Nov 1st @ 6:00pm
Greyhound Hall of Fame
MEMBERS ONLY
(785) 263-1770
"DEEP WATER HORIZON" at the Great Plains Cinema
Tue, Nov 1st @ 7:00pm
401 Cottage Avenue
(785) 263-4574
ABILENE GUN SHOW
Sat, Sun, Nov 5th-6th
9am - 5pm, 9am - 3pm
Sterl Hall, 619 N. Rogers
(785) 263-5575
PIPER LEIGH & THE SMOKING SECTION
- BONEBRAKE
CONCERT SERIES
Sat, Nov 5th @ 7:00 pm
Great Plains Theatre
401 Cottage Avenue
(785) 263-4574
"JACK REACHER: NEVER GO BACK" at the Great Plains Cinema
Fri, Nov 5th - Wed, Nov 9th
Check Website for showtimes
401 Cottage Avenue
(785) 263-4574
LUNCH & LEARN - THE POWER OF ZERO, hosted by Farm Bureau Financial - Ranae Veal 
Wed, Nov 9th @ 12 pm
Abilene Civic Center
201 NW. 2nd Street
(785) 263-1770
BUSINESS AFTER HOURS - TCT WIRELESS
Thu, Nov 10th @ 5 pm 
120 NE. 14th Street
(800) 362-2576
Chamber Board of Directors
Kyle Becker, Chairman

Marc Beswick, Past Chairman
 
Todd Moore, Vice Chairman
 
Raelyn Swisher, Secretary
 
Diane Miller, Treasurer
 
Matt Engle
 
Denise Guy
 
Jeff Hoover
 
Becky Schwab
 
Jennifer Waite
 
David Walters
 
 
Travis Sawyer
     
Glenda Purkis
   
November 1, 2016
JULIE ROLLER NAMED CVB DIRECTOR 
PRESS RELEASE

Julie Roller
The City of Abilene has named Julie Roller to serve as Convention and Visitors Bureau Director for the Abilene Convention and Visitors Bureau. Julie will assume the duties of the position beginning November 28, 2016. As CVB 
Director, Julie will oversee the operations of the Civic Center, Visitors Information Center, Trolley, and the marketing program for the City of Abilene. The CVB has an annual operating budget of about $230,000, which is mostly funded from transient guest tax receipts.

Originally from Woodbine, Kansas, Julie has a diverse experience in tourism, marketing, communications, and economic development that will add value to the Convention and Visitors Bureau and the community. Julie has worked for Downtown Augusta, Inc., Pottawatomie County Economic Development Corporation, where she recruited and coordinated the Kansas Sampler Festival in Wamego, Kansas. Most recently, Julie worked for the Kansas Department of Agriculture.

Julie earned a bachelor's degree from Kansas State University in Journalism and Mass Communications with a concentration in Public Relations. She has completed the Flint Hills Leadership Program and the Dwight D. Eisenhower Series of Excellence in Public Service. She is currently a member of the Kansas Farm Bureau Masters Program. Julie also graduated from Chapman High School.

"The candidate pool was very deep with this recruitment process, but Julie stood out as the best candidate to meet Abilene's tourism and marketing needs," said City Manager David Dillner. "Her background and experience will add tremendous value to the CVB and its mission of promoting Abilene as a tourist destination."

While working at the Department of Agriculture, Julie managed membership in the "From the Land of Kansas" program and coordinated its K-State Sports Football Partnership, Kansas State Fair, and Kansas Sampler Festivals marketing campaigns.

She managed the program's social media presence and wrote more than $200,000 in successful grant applications. "I am especially grateful to all those involved in the selection process to assist in the selection process of Abilene's next CVB Director," said David Dillner. "The process involved several stages and involved a diverse group of individuals representing tourism, retail, and the general public. I appreciated the feedback the committee provided to assist in the decision for this important position in the City." "There is also much appreciation to be extended to Glenda Purkis for her leadership and guidance during the recent transition," said David Dillner. "Glenda will once again enjoy retirement, although she will likely be involved in the planning  and implementation of the upcoming Trails, Rails, and Tales event scheduled for Labor Day weekend, September 2017. We wish her the best in next adventure."

                  

     

AROUND TOWN


Piper Leigh
The Bonebrake Concert Series at the Great Plains Theatre hosts the return of Piper Leigh and the Smoking Section on Saturday, November 5th at 7:00 pm.  Piper Leigh bring soulful blues and rock to the stage with a sultry voice and solid musicians
.  Piper Leigh has played in Abilene a number of times and has become a crowd favorite.  The concert is sponsored by Smart Insurance and McKee Pools.  Tickets are $15 and available by calling (785) 263-4574 or on-line at this LINK.  

TCT Wireless will be having a business after hours on Thursday, November 10th beginning at 5 pm at their Abilene Solution Center (120 NE. 14th Street).  The first 25 Chamber members through the door will receive a gift.  

The restaurant in the Tornado Lanes bowling alley has been remodeled and will be open daily . 

A train derailment caused some disruption at the Flint Hills Grain facility at W. 1st and Elm Streets.

New Chamber member, Cedar Street Market Antiques (319 N. Cedar), held a business after hours last week with nearly 70 people in attendance.  Connie Brunner and Wilma Calovich showed of their classy showroom, which demonstrates their great taste and the quality of their work.  Chris Ostermann (Engle House) won the 50-50 cash raffle.  Door prizes were won by Marty Andrews (Joe Snuffy's), Mayor Dee Marshall, Heidi Anderson (Kansas Best Real Estate) and Damien Stephens (Stephens Chiropractic).  A great evening was had by all and we wish Connie and Wilma great success.

The Abilene Area Chamber of Commerce Board has four 3-year terms and 1 partial 1-year term to elect for 2017.  Thus far, Raelyn Swisher (MHS), David Walters (First Bank Kansas), Kenny Roelofsen (Abilene Machine), and Darwin Alderson (Holm Automotive) have agreed to serve full terms.  The 1-year term is being considered by a number of individuals.    
 

 

  

24/7 PURCHASES FORMER AMERICA'S BEST VALUE INN
.
Press Release-Abilene 11/01/16

Triplett Inc. doing business as 24/7 Travel Stores has purchased the restaurant and hotel adjacent to their location at 2200 North Buckeye in Abilene. The La Fiesta restaurant will remain open with plans to relocate in the near future. The hotel buildings will be torn down immediately and the ground leveled off for future development. Triplett, Inc. is currently working on various site plans that includes razing and rebuilding the current 24-7 Travel Store adding fueling capacity for both cars and trucks. As part of the raze and rebuild of the 24/7 Travel Store in
Abilene, we are seeking a restaurant and a hotel partner as part of the
redevelopment.

The 24/7 Travel Stores have eight locations from Goodland to Maple Hill along I-70, with an additional location on I-135 in west Salina. A new location will be opening in McPherson in early spring of 2017.

"The Abilene 24/7 Travel Store location is important to our operations and we plan to provide the City of Abilene an attractive entrance into the community." stated Mark Augustine, President of Triplett Inc.

If you have an interest in partnering on the property call Larry Pankratz Business Development Manager for the 24/7 Travel Stores at 785-823-7839 ext. 109.

Press Release Contact:
Larry Pankratz
Business Development Manager
785-577-1734
larryp@triplettinc.com
 

 

  

James' Random Thoughts ....................

Government is a Reflection

Let me start with a quote that reflects the last several election cycles.

"It is only when the people become ignorant and corrupt, when they degenerate into a populace, that they are incapable of exercising their sovereignty.  Usurpation is then an easy attainment, and an usurper soon found.  The people themselves become the willing instruments of their own debasement and ruin." - James Monroe, 5th President of the United States of America

It seems nearly universal, people are ready for this election cycle to be over.  The steady beat of "never Trump", "never Hillary", and making the false choice between the "lesser of two evils" is deafening.  Thank goodness it will be over soon.  Or will it only morph into a partisan talk head abyss?  It seems that it's all boiled down to a corrupt criminal insider, a bombastic buffoon, or a legitimate third option, but you might "wasting your vote". 

No one likes to be called ignorant, particularly about matters of their political beliefs.  However, when the sources of your knowledge become corrupt, so does the opinions you carry.  Not due to any fault of your own; you are just making sense of bad information.  When people cease thinking as a free individual and instead identify with a group, then they let the mantra of the group dictate their thoughts.  We stop thinking for our sovereign selves and just beat the drum laid before us. 

As children we are taught not to lie, cheat, steal, and brag.  Yet we are forced to endorse a liar, cheater, thief, and egomaniac in this election.  Regardless of which major party candidate you feel compelled to vote for, your endorsement should give the little voice in your head pause.  There is rarely a week go by that someone doesn't lie to me; and I promptly resolve to minimize my exposure to that person.  In some circles, I have heard such disreputable behavior either endorsed or sloughed off as inconsequential.  This tolerance is so prevalent among our fellow citizens, that it is manifest in those we choose as leaders.  Government and laws are a reflection of the people. 

The shear mass of the political machine and gregarious nature of a populace mentality makes principled change impossible.  We need a renaissance of individuals who strongly believe in bringing the government to justice.  Until then, I guess we'll have to hold our nose when entering the voting booth.            
 
Abilene Area Chamber of Commerce
201 NW. 2nd Street
Abilene, Kansas  67410
(785) 263-1770