GUESTS Dave Kerr, Past President Greater Hutchinson Chamber of Commerce, our speaker and guest of Darren Wicks and Justin Kilmer, a guest of Brenda Janda.
PRESENTATION We presented an AmTryke to 9 year old Sal Mariscal, son of Victor and Helen Mariscal. The AmTryke was recommended by Sarah Hastey, USD 308 Physical Therapist. Sal received the AmTryke with his Mom Helen and sister Debbie.
FINES Jerry Regier and Scott Potucek were our Sergeants-At-Arms. Curtis Mitchell was fined for starting the meeting at 7:01, Eric Steinle and Ward Davis were fined for arriving at 7:04 and 7:05 respectfully. I was fined for not using information sent by e-mail from Jerry Regier for the State of the City breakfast. Following a club pin and invitation-to-breakfast card check they rang out.
ANNOUNCEMENTS Scott Potucek paid to announce that there were so many items submitted to the Hutchinson Art Gallery special exhibit showcasing his mother Pat Potucek’s work, that items had to be turned away for lack of space. This free exhibit will run through February 9th.
Jay Pitzer wanted to thank all those who worked the casino night last Thursday. Also a BIG Thank You to Jay for securing the casinos that we have had this season.
Special Board Meeting next Friday at 6:15AM to discuss building a new building for our Ice Cream booth at the Kansas State Fairgrounds.
Jerry Regier announced a committee consisting of Jay Pitzer, Eric Steinle, Tom Hymer and Rita Joy Campbell met last Monday with Mayor Ron Sellers regarding the possibility of our club hosting a State of the City Breakfast. It was recommended and accepted by the board that on February 24, 2012 the club hosts the State of the City Breakfast. There will be approximately 15-20 special invited guests and media at the breakfast and members are encouraged to mark their calendar and attend this first ever event. The goal is to make the State of the City Breakfast an annual event and reach out to other organizations to help AMBUCS grow the event, which would include the business community as well as residents of Hutchinson. Additional information will be forthcoming about this Visibility Month activity. If you have any questions, contact Jerry Regier at 966-3315 or email jerry@hutchrodrun.com.
PROGRAM Darren Wicks introduced Dave Kerr, past President of the Greater Hutchinson Chamber of Commerce. Dave attended K-State with degrees in Biological Science and Psychology then graduating from KU with a Masters of Business Administration. Dave began his career with Trans World Airlines in Kansas City for 5 years, he started a landscape company in Saudi Arabia and was in the Kansas Senate for 20 years before joining the Chamber and completing 5 years. Some of his greatest accomplishments at the Chamber have been in Economic Development. Most notably the Siemens Nacelle facility but also many others including; Shield Industries, Damon Worldwide, Kroger Accounting Services, Kroger Human Relations and Kroger Convenience Store management. We were one of 84 cities that Siemens was looking at to build their plant. Shield Industries saved several jobs from going to Mexico by staying here. Damon Worldwide purchased their first property here for offices and personnel that manage smaller accounts private label management. Hutchinson was the largest community in Kansas not served by a four-lane highway in 1984. Our community probably benefited the most from the 1989, 1999 and 2010 State Highway Plans and is looking toward the 2016 plan for further development of the K96 and I-70 Northwest passageway. Hutchinson is loosing some residents to Wichita because a lack of urban style apartments. In a recent resident survey 42% named Kohls as a store they would like to see in Hutchinson which is now forthcoming. Dave also mentioned that the US Congress needs to look at changing the 2 year Production Tax Credit for Wind and Renewable Energy to a more favorable 10 year window. Hutchinson will continue to reap the benefits, for many years to come, from the many projects that Dave Kerr has been involved with.
50/50 DRAWING Paul Brown won $14 and it was donated to the Head Start Project.
NEWSLETTER DRAWING Dan Power did not know the answer that Two Million Turpentine Cups were sold to finance the first AMBUC club in Birmingham, Alabama.
QUESTION OF THE WEEK William L White graduated from what college June 22, 1919?
NEXT MEETING Darren Wicks did not call me back in time so I do not know if Monty Montgomery, President, Greater Hutchinson Chamber of Commerce will be our program or not.
CALENDAR February 11, Casino Night, Kansas Cosmosphere, fund-raiser for a therapy dog.
Steve Conard, Editor