Hutchinson Chapter of AMBUCS
Editor: Duke Wiggins
GUESTS: Jim Remar, President of the Kansas Cosmosphere & Space Center, our guest speaker for today.
SERGEANTS PLAYGROUND: Colby (you just call my name) Davis and father Ward, rang the bell and began collecting funds for the kids. Rita Joy was the first target, who I heard asking $1 or $2, which is a sure opening for a stupid tax. She paid $2. Tim Davies paid for a quick trip to Oklahoma 2 years ago. Larry Sloan paid for not recognizing Colby. Then there was the missing Board of Directors meeting regularly scheduled for the second Friday of the month. Since Dane P was acting president he and all his board members present paid for forgetfulness, including Dave S, Rita Joy, Doug, Dennis and Duke. Dwight and Brad paid for being themselves. Mark T paid for praying in a church parking lot. Rita Joy paid $1 more to announce that her daughter, Sommer Tokihro, has completed her masters as a Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor. Seems like it runs in the family.
ANNOUNCEMENTS: Fred sent around the State Fair sign-up sheets. He has scaled down manpower requirements to a bare minimum, and the committee is requesting that each member fill 3-4 hour shifts. This years fair will run from Sept 7th thru Sept 16th.
There will be a Board of Directors meeting Friday 20th at 7:00AM. If you see President Darren, please advise him.
PROGRAM: Jeff Roberson introduced Jim Remar, President of the Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center, who was asked to bring an update on the current programs and future direction of Hutchinsons largest year-round tourist attraction. Attendance continues strong, with 150,000 attending last year, 97,000 of which were from outside Reno County. This year they are celebrating their 50th anniversary since opening on the Kansas State Fairgrounds in a borrowed facility. Today they are located at 11th and Plum streets on the campus of HCC and house one of the finest collections of space artifacts in the United States. KCSC has a very strong relationship with the Smithsonian Institute, and provides many thousands of hours through their Spaceworks division in inspecting and restoring exhibits that are to be relocated. Since the space program ended with the completion of the Shuttle flights, Jim feels that KCSC needs to look at the commercial side of space flight and plan their new exhibits around this aspect of future space flight. The IMAX theatre will undergo a significant upgrade this fall. It will be converted to digital output, providing the ability to bring the new world of digital programming right here to Hutchinson. Should be a great economic draw for the community. In ending, Jim encouraged all to support the upcoming sales tax vote, as the Cosmosphere receives much of its operational funding through this tax. Thanks to Jim for a great program.
DRAWINGS: The 50/50 drawing went to Jeff Roberson, who contributed the $22 to the Cosmosphere. The newsletter drawing revealed that Randy Hendrickson did not read his newsletter and knew neither the question nor answer. Next weeks question for $45 is How many shifts is each member expected to work at this years fair?