Newsletter - December 2022 Edition |
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IN THIS ISSUE:
- Community of Excellence - Application Due Date Change
- Report for 2022/Enroll for 2023
- PRIDE Community Happenings
- Reminder: Seeking Your Thoughts on Program Relevancy
- Sponsor Highlight: Networks Plus
- The Retirement of a Legend
- Kansas Masons Scholarships
- Continuing Opportunities Section
- External Funding Resources
- Up for a Community Visit? We Are, Too!
- Catch Us on Facebook & Facebook Live!
- K-State Garden Hour December Schedule
- Kansas Entrepreneurship Challenge
- Events Calendar
- Holiday Closings
- Ways to Support Kansas PRIDE
- Partner and Resource Links
- 2022 Kansas PRIDE Communities
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Some changes just make sense. In this case, aligning all the recognition awards into one award season resonated with the Kansas PRIDE, Inc. Board of Directors. Starting in May of 2023, Community of Excellence applications will be accepted for review.
What does this mean? For Communities of Action that are interested in becoming a Community of Excellence, it means that if the fall deadline of 2022 passed for you, you have an opportunity to apply in the spring of 2023. Applications will be due on May 1, along with all the other recognition awards.
What is the benefit of being a Community of Excellence? The designation lasts for 3 years, and during that time your community can apply for multiple award opportunities, including the Volunteers Impact PRIDE Award for larger scale projects.
Interested in applying? Click here and scroll to the bottom of the page. There is an example of how applications are expected to read but are not expected to be formatted (please include pictures, it just does not have to be created by a graphic designer).
We know this is super exciting! We know there will be questions, and if you have them, don't hesitate to contact us at pride@ksu.edu. - Jaime Menon, Kansas PRIDE Program Co-Coordinator, jmenon@ksu.edu
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Report for 2022/Enroll for 2023
The new year is fast approaching and that means it will soon be time to report your quarterly efforts and enroll for 2023. We recommend that you report for 2022 before enrolling in 2023. The reporting deadline for Q4 2022 is January 15, 2023, and reports can be completed any time between now and then.
To be considered a part of the Kansas PRIDE program communities should enroll each calendar year. This lets us know you're still active and also gives you the opportunity to let us know of any leadership changes or newsletter subscription updates. When you enroll remember that your most recent Resolution of Government support is good for 3 years from the signing date, so if you're not due for a new one yet you may carry the previous year's number over to 2023's enrollment form.
The enrollment database will be available any time after January 1, 2023, and you can enroll by following the link on this page. We're here for any questions you might have or to help with any technical glitches you may encounter. - Jan Steen, Kansas PRIDE Program Co-Coordinator, jmsteen@ksu.edu
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PRIDE Community Happenings |
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The Morland Community Foundation (PRIDE) and Morland Lions Club worked together on a fire pit project at the city park. Volunteers removed the old fire barrel and excavated a circle by hand for a concrete slab to support the new fire pit. The slab has been poured and they're ready for the next step of building a 6 ft. fire pit and grates.
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The Ozawkie PRIDE Association continues its activities to support the city, township, and fire district. One of their recent festivities was a Glow Run. Attendance numbers were good for this, their first running event. Weather was also favorable.
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Scranton PRIDE has been busy with several projects in the community. In addition to hosting a Halloween costume giveaway event, they also began construction on a blessing box and decorated a light pole on Main Street for the homecoming parade. Additionally, they received a $200 Community of Growth grant to assist with fees associated with setting themselves up as a non-profit.
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Reminder: Seeking Your Thoughts on Program Relevancy |
A reminder to those of you who received our Program Relevancy survey email on November 18th - please complete the survey by the December 1st deadline.
Thank you!
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Sponsor Highlight: Networks Plus
In this edition of the newsletter, we'd like to highlight and thank Networks Plus as a Kansas PRIDE program sponsor. Networks Plus is not only devoted to the success of their partners by providing comprehensive cybersecurity and managed services for businesses in northeast Kansas, but they are also devoted to the success of Kansas PRIDE communities, providing their support as a program sponsor. Thank you Networks Plus! You can learn more about Networks Plus at their website here.
The Kansas PRIDE Program uses no state or federal dollars to fund community projects or recognition. Sponsors support communities participating in the program by helping to fund grants and awards and have the opportunity to serve on the Kansas PRIDE, Inc. Board of Directors. It’s not just the communities that benefit – the sponsors get a lot out of it, too! To see how your company's or organization's support can benefit communities throughout the state, visit our Sponsors and Sponsorship page to find out how to donate.
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The Retirement of a Legend
The time has come to say "Farewell" to a Legend in Kansas Extension, and a champion of the Kansas PRIDE Program. You might have had the opportunity to have her serve as your PRIDE Coordinator when you were starting your local PRIDE organization or had her visit to help you navigate community issues through a facilitated discussion. Yes, Trudy Rice has retired.
Throughout her Extension career, Trudy has been a champion of Kansas communities. Starting her official Extension career in Douglas County as a Family and Consumer Sciences Agent, then County Director, her passion to support community development grew. When the opportunity to work directly with communities across Kansas as a state specialist appeared, she leapt at the chance, and from there Community Vitality in Kansas Extension began to thrive.
During her tenure in Community Vitality, her commitment and care for communities continued to grow and the impact of her work can be seen throughout Kansas, as well as through partner connections and monetary support. By working with the Dane G. Hansen Foundation, the Kansas Masons and Extension Administration she has been able to expand Community Vitality programming, projects and personnel. Kansas PRIDE was the flagship program for Community Vitality when Trudy started her journey as a state specialist, and she was able to leverage Kansas PRIDE to provide the opportunities for CV Programming that are available today – such as First Impressions, Grant Writing, Facilitation and the Remote Online Initiative, to grow our Community Vitality unit from a staff of 2 to a staff of 7, and to make connections with The Huck Boyd Institute and The Rural Grocery Initiative to grow the presence of CV Programming as a whole.
I had the immense honor of having Trudy as my mentor when I was an Administrative Specialist for the Kansas PRIDE Program, and then when I became the Coordinator of the Kansas PRIDE Program (this was pre Co-Coordinator days, but Jan also had the honor of having Trudy as a mentor at the County Agent level). I had never met a person like her, which is a force to be reckoned with, but in all the right ways. She is thoughtful and direct, and gives great insights. I will never forget being "just an Administrative Specialist" (that was the way I thought of myself) when at a Kansas PRIDE, Inc. Board meeting she shared an idea that I had voiced at a staff meeting, and when the board responded with great positivity, she pointed to me and said "That was Jaime's idea, and that's just one example of the quality work that Jaime brings to this team. She's not just an Administrative Specialist, she, and our volunteers, are the heart of this program." Her faith in me allowed me to discover the value that I bring to others, and for that I am forever grateful.
While it may feel sad to know that she has left Extension for a new chapter in life titled "Trudy's Retirement," don't think for a second that she's left you behind. Trudy believes in, and supports, Kansas communities. You are likely to find her at your local coffee shop, restaurant, antique store or boutique, or taking a leisurely walk in your downtown or on one of your local trails as the road calls her to head out camping or take a drive to discover what your Kansas community has to offer. So, when you see her, offer a handshake, a hug, a congratulations, or maybe even a thank you for her nearly 40 years of service to Kansas communities.
Farewell Trudy, but not goodbye! - Jaime Menon, Kansas PRIDE Program Co-Coordinator, jmenon@ksu.edu
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Kansas Masons Scholarships - Making College Education Possible for Many Kansans
The Kansas Masonic Foundation would like to announce that their scholarship application period opens December 1, 2022 and closes on March 15, 2023. All Kansas high school students and current college students are eligible to apply online at www.KansasMasonic.Foundation. This applies to all Kansas universities, junior colleges, and technical colleges.
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CONTINUING OPPORTUNITIES SECTION |
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FIRST FRIDAY E-CALLS
K-State Research and Extension offers entrepreneurship webinars every first Friday of the month. Visit our Webpage for all past sessions. Registration information for upcoming sessions can be found HERE.
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External Funding Opportunities |
Want to put your new grant writing skills to use? Here are some opportunities for project funding outside of the Kansas PRIDE grants:
The National Fish and Wildlife Foundation offers grants from $25,000 to $50,000 to develop community capacity to sustain local natural resources for future generations. Projects can include community outreach, community tree canopy enhancement, water quality, and more. Project should increase access to the benefits of nature and it is the expectation of the NFWF that both urban and rural applicants will seek funding. Deadline is January 31, 2023. You can find more here: https://www.nfwf.org/programs/five-star-and-urban-waters-restoration-grant-program
Dollar General's Summer Reading program grant application will go live in January 2023. These grants support the creation or expansion of summer reading programs in a community. Local non-profits, schools, and libraries are eligible to apply. Check their website after the first of the year to find out how to apply: https://www.dgliteracy.org/grant-programs/?#summer-reading
United Wireless sponsors organizations, activities, and events in the Southwest Kansas communities they serve. They have a quick and easy form on their website to request funding, so if you are in that part of the state and have a funding need coming up go visit their site: https://getunited.com/sponsorshipsdonations/
Additional Funding Resources
Is your Kansas PRIDE community looking for funding to help with certain projects? Let us know what the project is, how much you're seeking, and what your timeline looks like. We have access to an external grants database and likely can give you some links to potential funding sources. Just email us at PRIDE@ksu.edu with your request and project idea.
Not a Kansas PRIDE community? This resource is a great reason to join! You can also reach out to your local Extension office which should have access to the database as well. - Jan Steen, Kansas PRIDE Program Co-Coordinator, jmsteen@ksu.edu
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Up for a Virtual, or in Person, Community Visit? We Are, Too! |
Our offer near the end of each newsletter is to engage your community remotely, or in person!
Our model has changed slightly - we prefer virtual for initial steps as our introduction videos can be shared widely throughout the community. We would be more than happy to host a Zoom meeting where your PRIDE group members, city council members, chamber participants, Masonic Lodge, or other groups could individually log in to see the presentation or discussion and ask questions. In person is a great way to get assessments or other community planning done, and we are happy to do a survey read out as a neutral party, or help you through a Strategic Doing session. Just e-mail us at PRIDE@ksu.edu to set up a schedule.
To view pre-recorded webinars giving an introduction to the program, step-by-step instructions on how to enroll or report, fundraising, recruiting volunteers, and more, head over to our Education page for more. Keep your eye on that page, as we will be updating our Toolkit soon! - Jan Steen and Jaime Menon, Kansas PRIDE Program Co-Coordinators, PRIDE@ksu.edu
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We often post items of interest on our Facebook page between newsletters. Grants, volunteer training, project ideas, and even the occasional Live stream will pop up. Click the button below to like and follow the program activity there: |
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Kansas Entrepreneurship Challenge
Are you interested in ways your community might engage students and promote entrepreneurship and small business development? The Kansas Entrepreneurship Challenge is sponsored by the Kansas Masonic Foundation and Kansas Masons and is a partnership with Kansas State University and Network Kansas' Youth Entrepreneurship Challege series. The competition is for student created, managed, and owned ventures and thousands of dollars in cash prizes are available. More information on how to qualify, deadlines, and submission format can be found by clicking the logo above.
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Quarterly Report Due Dates:
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January 15th, April 15th, July 15th, October 15th
Awards Deadlines:
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Holiday Closing
The Kansas PRIDE office will be closed during Kansas State University's holiday/winter shutdown from December 24, 2022, through January 2, 2023. We'll return on Tuesday, January 3. Have a safe and happy holiday season!
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Ways to Support Kansas PRIDE |
Would you like to support communities' efforts to improve the quality of life across Kansas? Companies/organizations can sponsor the program and have the option to serve on the Kansas PRIDE, Inc. Board of Directors. KPI also accepts individual donations, or you can contribute by using the Amazon Smile link here should you do any online shopping. Support your local merchants first, of course! |
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Partner and Resource Links |
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2022 Kansas PRIDE Communities
The following communities are currently enrolled in the Kansas PRIDE program for the 2022 program year. To enroll your community visit our Enrollment and Reporting page and click on the light blue "Enroll" button to get started.
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- Admire
- Alton
- Anthony
- Arlington
- Ashland
- Assaria
- Axtell
- Basehor
- Belleville
- Blue Rapids
- Burden
- Bushton
- Caldwell
- Caney
- Clifton
- Columbus
- Conway Springs
- Courtland
- Delia
- Dover
- Dwight
- Elk City
- Ellis
- Erie
- Florence
- Fort Scott
- Glasco
- Grainfield
- Grinnell
- Harper
- Haysville
- Herndon
- Highland
- Hugoton
- Humboldt
- Independence
- Iola
- Kinsley
- La Harpe
- Lakin
- Larned
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- Lecompton
- Leon
- Leonardville
- Lewis
- Lincoln
- Lucas
- Luray
- Macksville
- Marion
- McFarland
- Melvern
- Moran
- Morland
- Mount Hope
- Newton
- Norton
- Olsburg
- Osawatomie
- Overbrook
- Ozawkie
- Perry
- Portis
- Potwin
- Quenemo
- Randolph
- Riley
- Riverton
- Rossville
- Rozel
- Russell
- Saint George
- Savonburg
- Scranton
- Silver Lake
- South Central Neighborhood (Wichita)
- Stockton
- Toronto
- Vermillion
- Wakefield
- Wilson
- Yates Center
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Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service
K-State Research and Extension is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
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