School to start in August Despite Governor Kelly's order to delay the 2020-21 school year, Kansas’ schools will reopen for in-person instruction in August. The state board of education voted 5-5 with the tie allowing them to reject the executive order. Read more on this announcement here. More details on the reopening plan will be coming from USD 445.

Important - Member Visits We are scheduling membership visits to your business! If you haven't had a chance to talk with the Chamber this year, we would love to schedule a time for a brief visit. These visits allow us to learn more about your business updates, questions & needs so we can better support the business community. Email Candi or call 620-251-2550 Creative Sales & Marketing Learn why Point of Sale marketing can be a great promotional strategy for your business. How about creative business signs, can they help boost your business? Radio Advertising can be a great way to promote your products or services. Check out this article on how to make radio work for your business. Keep in mind this article may discuss more larger radio markets but we have a great station here that works hard to maximize your advertising dollars. Sanitizer Just a reminder the Chamber has liter sized sanitizer on sale for only $8. We also have limited supplies of disinfectant for only $4. Call for more information.

COVID-19 Relief for Business Discussions are still in the works on the next government COVID-19 relief bill. Learn more about why liability immunity is still a key issue in the stimulus bill as well. Sitting at a desk all day? Whether you are working from home or just sitting at your desk more (since getting out is tricky these days), not only are stress levels rising, but so are back and neck pain. Check out these tips on avoiding back and neck pain. Are you falling for the headline? “On the average, five times as many people read the headline as read the body copy. When you have written your headline, you have spent eighty cents out of your dollar.” - David Ogilvy  In our world today, too often we read the headlines or just one line out of an article or post to form an opinion. I would caution you to dig a little deeper. As business and community leaders, it is our job to show caution, wisdom and knowledge. Employees look to you as an example and you are doing an amazing job!

Online Sales Webinar - Aug 4th @ 10am The Chamber has partnered with the SBDC to offer a webinar on creative ways to offer your products and services online (Facebook, website, and other low cost options). In a time that some residents are still hesitant to shop in store, having options to reach your customers is a must. Free for Chamber members.

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Chamber also seeking your expertise!  Looking for amazing Chamber members with expertise to share. Consider presenting at our next webinar or live presentation. Presentations need only be 30 minutes or so in length and the Chamber can help present!  If you would also like sponsor a webinar/presentation, contact Candi for more details!  Topic ideas are endless, what knowledge can you share? Here are just a few ideas:  Advertising on a budget for small business (platforms, how to stretch your dollars, free resources) Customer Service Essentials - happy customers are part of the best marketing plan, and word of mouth marketing is priceless. Board best practices  How to protect yourself and your employees from emotional drain – how to maintain your sanity during COVID-19 What other topics would you find useful?

Great opportunity coming to Coffeyville. The Chamber is working on partial scholarships to offer. Message Candi for more details.

CENSUS... Taking it to the Streets Ready or not, Kansas, here we come! NRFU-- Non-Response Follow-Up -- gets underway this week in much of Kansas. This does not mean 2020 Census partnership work has concluded. Quite the contrary. Households can still respond now by completing and mailing back the paper questionnaire they received, by responding online at my2020census.gov, or by phone at 844-330-2020. Those who respond will not need to be visited to obtain their census response so please encouraged your employees to complete their census now. The Census Bureau requires census takers wear a mask while conducting their work. They are to follow CDC and local public health guidelines when they visit. Census takers must complete a virtual COVID-19 training on social distancing protocols and other health and safety guidance before beginning their work in neighborhoods. Please keep in mind census takers are hired from local communities. These are Kansans counting Kansans in order to ensure our state gains appropriate representation and receives critical federal funding based on population numbers. Tick. Tick. Tick. That's the sound of Kansas self-response rates continuing an upward climb. Our states's self-response rate now stands at 65.9%.

Final Note... Every Day is New Too often we think as business owners and leaders we have to be on top of our game, leading the pack and keeping up the morale each and every day. But let's be real, we are human too. Sometimes it is just enough to keep calm and push through the day. We need to give ourselves permission to be imperfect. Celebrate your successes and take a break from time to time. You have done amazing things through the last few months. Keeping your business running and your staff safe and working is a reason to celebrate. "You know, all that really matters is that the people you love are happy and healthy. Everything else is just sprinkles on the sundae." Paul Walker And as always, my door is always open, my phone is always on. Sincerely, Candi Westbrook Executive Director

Have a topic you want us to research and share? What challenge or need do you have? Send us an email with your questions!