LAWRENCE LADY BOSS

from The Spot Mag~ Winter2022

KIRSTEN’S CORNER

RPG OWNERS: BETSY POOL & MEGHAN MORSCHES

When I think of a modern day super woman, I picture someone actively pursuing their dreams, while maintaining a family life and confidently putting one foot in front of the other. Perhaps there are no two individuals more suited for this definition in our Lawrence community than Betsy Pool and Meghan Morsches. With a combined seven children, active spouses, and their own community commitments, Betsy and Meghan added co-owning RPG (Restaurant, Pub and Games) to their list of accomplishments a little over two years ago. While not every day has been easy (they did open their doors just months before a worldwide pandemic started), they are making their dreams a reality and there is always something to be said for that.

RPG opened in September of 2019 and features outstanding food and drinks, as well as a collection of a thousand board games. They also regularly host private events, public events, and have outdoor dining for the warmer months. RPG’s mission is this: To provide a space which connects people to the world, fostering face-toface connections between all types of people in the community.

Betsy and Meghan own RPG with their spouses, Matt and Nate. The four of them, all close friends, created RPG after an idea was hatched in the summer of 2017. Upon opening, each of them found their unique role on the team. For Meghan, that meant when the kids were sleeping or at school she was building furniture and designing the space that created the welcoming feeling they wanted all of their customers to experience. Betsy currently manages the massive board game library, and plans ways to teach board games to others. Meghan and Betsy are also planning their next Meet the Game series, where they go live on Facebook to casually hang out and teach and talk about the board games they have on their shelf at RPG. I appreciate them taking time out of their busy schedule to answer a few questions.

What is your favorite thing about being a Lady Boss?

Meghan: “I love the attitude of mutual respect and support I’ve received from other Lady Bosses in the Lawrence community. We really want each other to succeed in our businesses.”

Betsy: “I love that a woman can be a boss and that we all can and do set a standard for our daughters to follow in. I love how we have the capability in this day and age to work from home.”

Who or what inspires you?

Meghan: “I am constantly impressed by the attitudes and creativity of our staff. They have faced very difficult challenges by being in the service industry during a global pandemic, but they meet these challenges with innovation and commitment. I think that our staff is a large part of what makes RPG so special.”

Betsy: “Currently, my two older sons inspire me. They see what their Dad and Mom are building, how much work goes into it, and how everyone at RPG has worked together to build a community. They want to build their own business/community when they grow up. My oldest son, Ain, says he wants to own a restaurant, particularly that he wants to be an owner of another RPG. I love showing them how, with hard work and determination, they can choose to build a business of their own.”

How do you see yourself making our community better?

Meghan: “Community is one of the core values of our business. We strive to create community by bringing people together, taking a break from our devices, and reconnecting face-to-face. As a business, we have made important relationships with agencies like Bert Nash, so we can have a more widespread impact on the mental health of our community. Personally, I am a part of the Leadership Lawrence Class of 2022 to discover how I can use my own skills and time to best help others in town.”

Betsy: “The four owners at RPG have it as our mission to make our community better. We are starting by providing a good working environ-

ment for our staff, with living wages. We see that trickle down to how everyone at RPG, regardless of their position, is bringing their best and working to fulfill the mission of making RPG a community where everyone feels welcome. A guest once said that RPG is the most relevant cultural hub in Lawrence, and we take pride in that. I am also in this years’ Leadership Lawrence class and see that as a way to discover more ways I can serve others in our community”

Where do you see your business 5 years from now?

Meghan: “We never stop thinking about the next steps. We hope to emerge from this pandemic with a rock solid financial foundation and personal resolve. We plan to bring the RPG business model to other cities, beginning in the midwest.”

What piece of advice would you encourage others with?

Betsy: “With work, find something you are passionate about, or at least find the “why” you are committed to the work. That will take you much further than you think. Knowing your “why” will also help when you’ve almost run out of money. You will come up with new ideas for revenue or new ways to keep the business going without losing the vision. Lastly, find a mentor and ask lots of questions.” Meghan: “Surround yourself with people whose skills are different from yours and help you see things from a new perspective. Trust them to make your business better with their insight.”

Visit Meghan and Betsy in Downtown Lawrence at 724 Massachusetts Street, or on the web at rpglawrence.com.

Article written by Amanda Gregory, Creator of Lawrence Lady Boss. The Lawrence Lady Boss Project was built to connect Lady Bosses in Lawrence and the surrounding communities. Once a quarter, they bring you Networking Night Out events featuring local businesses both big and small. For more information find them on Facebook at Lawrence Lady Boss Project.