July 2011 Newsletter

July 2011

New Chamber program encourages local purchases Lawrence Chamber of Commerce members now have a new tool that makes it easier than ever for them to do business with other local businesses.

Details on page 5......

First Aid Training for the Mind Mental Health First Aid is a 12-hour training course designed to give individuals important skills to assist someone who is developing a mental health problem or experiencing a mental health crisis. Just as CPR training helps a layperson without medical training assist an individual who is in cardiac arrest, Mental Health First Aid training helps individuals assist someone experiencing a mental health crisis.

From Australia to Lawrence Mental Health First Aid training is offered to businesses, government employees, community groups and professionals by certified instructors from the Bert Nash Center. Developed in 2001 in Australia by Betty Kitchener and Professor Tony Jorm, the initial aim of the program was to improve mental health literacy in Australia. Now, the program is being taught around the world. When it was introduced to the United States, the Bert Nash Center’s Chief Executive Officer, David Johnson and Patricia Roach Smith, Chief Operating Officer, participated in instructor training. They taught the first Mental Health First Aid class at the Bert Nash Center in 2008. Since then, the Center has trained over 350 individuals in Mental Health First Aid.

initial help, and how to guide a person toward appropriate treatments and other supportive help. Mental Health First Aid does not teach people to be therapists, but introduces participants to risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems, builds understanding of their impact, and overviews common treatments.

MHFA “Removed the fear” In Lawrence, response to the program by individuals, business people, public safety personnel, government employees and emergency service personnel has been overwhelmingly positive.

“The training armed me with the skills necessary to help recognize the various signs of multiple mental health issues that many of the clients we assist display. Most importantly, it removed much of the fear I had previously experienced dealing with many of these clients. That fear was replaced with empathy, understanding, and patience. That’s quite a take-away!”

Jane Blocher, Executive Director American Red Cross, Douglas County Chapter

“Because the program teaches valuable information about mental illness, along with ways to help someone in crisis, it is especially helpful for anyone who works with the public,” stated Patricia Roach Smith.

“The Mental Health First Aid class helped me understand the complexities and implications of mental illness. This understanding has been extremely helpful in my reporting on health issues for Douglas County.”

Karrey Britt, health reporter WellCommons.com / LJWorld.com

Not only does the class teach the facts about mental illness and common treatments, the interactive nature of the class introduces participants to risk factors and provides practical information on how to help someone in crisis. The program has solid evidence for its effectiveness from randomized controlled trials and qualitative studies. It increases knowledge, reduces stigma and, most importantly, increases supportive actions.

Customized programs for Chamber members are available.

The Mental Health First Aid program is conducted in a classroom setting with 12 hours of instruction. The class can be conducted at your place of business as a two-day seminar.

Classes are conducted Monday through Friday during normal business hours. Classes are also offered through the Bert Nash Center, for the fall schedule, see below.

Goals of the Program The goals of Mental Health First Aid are to: •Preserve life when a person may be a danger to self and others •Provide help to prevent the problem from becoming more serious •Provide comfort and support.

The cost for the program is $30 per person; which covers 12-hour instruction, a manual, and snacks.

September Class Dates: 6, 13, 20, 27 (4-7pm) Tuesdays October Class Dates: 3, 10, 17, 24 (4-7pm) Mondays November Class Dates: 7, 14, 21, 28 (4-7pm) Mondays

For more information email talktobert@bertnash.org or call Mental Health First Aid trains individuals how to recognize symptoms of mental health problems, how to offer and provide 785.843.9192.

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Collaboration will make Lawrence better

by Tom Kern Lawrence Chamber President & CEO

About one year ago, I spent several weeks in an intensive Kansas Leadership Center training program that brought together people from communities across the state. The purpose of the program was to teach us how we can make progress on the daunting challenges that communities face.

The key concept I found most important in that course was “how we can work together” to help our communities remain places we want to live, work and raise our families. I also learned that all of us have different operational styles and approach problemsolving in different ways. It is incumbent on us, as individuals or organizations, to understand our own style preference and recognize those of other community members. We can find opportunities to collaborate or we can choose conflict and confrontation.

Lately I’ve noticed that in working to resolve issues for the Lawrence community many of us – and I include the Chamber of Commerce in this generalization – are falling back into the conflict and confrontation model when we address issues of interest to the broader community. Individuals and groups define their own position and objective on a community issue and develop a strategy to make their position the “right choice.” We put labels on anyone who disagrees or has a different perspective on the issue. If we are “right,” then they must be “wrong.”

We become defined by the position we take. We align ourselves with like-minded groups and individuals and strengthen our positions by discrediting those that disagree with us.

It’s an approach we see often in Washington DC, and I suspect many of us criticize elected officials for playing politics rather than solving issues. None of us would intentionally choose that course for Lawrence.

Recent discussions concerning the environmental chapter of Horizon 2020 provide an excellent example of this process in work. People or groups supporting the chapter were categorized by some as “tree huggers, anti-growth or antidevelopment.” On the other side, groups questioning the chapter or asking for more community input were characterized as “anti-environmental, Chamber types or pro-growth.”

For several months, we engaged as a community in an often contentious back-and-forth on the intent and possible results of the chapter.

We spoke at each other, but not to each other. We did not engage in civil dialog among all concerned parties to find common ground or discuss a collaborative solution to the issue. We all were focused on promoting our own agenda and we forgot there are other more productive ways to resolve community issues.

As examples of choosing collaboration over confrontation, I would point to the development of the Oread Hotel and the recent location of the Berry Plastics warehouse project along Farmer’s Turnpike. These were complex, emotional issues for the community and yet we found a way to engage people in the process and as a result, we worked together on projects to benefit the overall community.

As a community, I believe strongly that Lawrencians want to work together, collaboratively, to face the daunting challenges of balancing quality of life issues with the need for continued economic growth and prosperity. No doubt we will have a number of community issues to resolve over the next year that will test our community will. My hope is that we will also remember we have choices in how we address those challenges.

Like everyone else in the community, the Chamber needs to remember that too.

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The Lawrence Chamber is proud to present

ChamberBid is a web-based platform that will help your company streamline the complicated process of purchasing products at competitive prices. This program connects Lawrence Chamber of Commerce members in need of products and services to other members who are qualified to handle those requests.

Three Reasons to Register with ChamberBid as a Supplier—Leads, Leads, Leads By joining the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce and registering with ChamberBid, your business will start receiving notifications of new business opportunities specific to your field.

These requests are already quality leads because they are fellow Chamber members. If the opportunity looks like something you’d like to try and take on, you can purchase the opportunity for less than a cup of coffee.

This will allow you to review more details about the bid request, interact with the requester in an online forum, and ultimately throw your hat in the ring to compete for their business.

Three Reasons to Use ChamberBid as a Purchaser Supportive - By using ChamberBid to send out bid requests to qualified providers, you are taking an active role in supporting Lawrence’s local economy.

Faster - ChamberBid eliminates the time-intensive process of calling several possible suppliers, meeting or responding to questions from each, and going through an overly-complicated negotiating process.

ChamberBid is a one-stop portal that instantly sources your needs to local providers, and keeps all your activity in one, easy-to-use place.

Cost-Effective - Sending out a request for bids is free to all Lawrence Chamber of Commerce members. By simultaneously sending out requests for bids to multiple suppliers, ChamberBid helps ensure you always receive a fair market price.

For more information please contact Cathy Lewis, Vice President Membership at 785.865.4406 or clewis@lawrencechamber.com.

ChamberBid: Easy as 1-2-3-4!

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“Kansas Nice” and Leadership Author Chris Green reflects on events while he was living in Scotland and how cultural differences may affect leadership styles. His comments follow a conversation in which he thought someone was being confrontational in questioning someone’s beliefs. You can read the full article at http://www.kansasleadershipcenter.org/participant-resources

Looking back, this situation may say more about my Kansas roots than it does about the British. Perhaps I’d brought a bit of “Kansas nice” to the U.K. “Kansas nice” is a term I have become acquainted with during my interactions with the Kansas Leadership Center as a program participant and as a researcher and writer for its case studies initiative.

Through a combination of my own experiences and discussions with colleagues, I have come to understand it as a social way of being that values amicability, politeness and respect more than it values being honest, forthright and candid.

At first glance, it seems like a good thing. “Kansas nice” conjures images of friendliness, courtesy and hospitality often associated with heartland living. Yet my colleagues and friends at The KLC have identified “Kansas nice” as a barrier to making progress on building healthier, more prosperous communities in our state. “Kansas nice” folks tend not to rock the boat which helps preserve established order and authority. They shy away from risk and conflict, often downplaying a problem or denying it even exists. In its least noble incarnations, “Kansas nice” can be inauthentic or passive aggressive. Instead of disagreeing with someone to his or her face, the authentic conversation takes place with others out in the “parking lot” after the other person is no longer present.

For Kansans who’ve lived in this state for all or most of their lives, as I have, it can be a very troubling assertion.

Yet it seems far easier for outsiders to recognize something that may point to how deeply ingrained such behavior is within our state’s culture. When he began working as a faculty member at The KLC two years ago, Marty Linsky, a leadership consultant, author and faculty member at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government, could often sense something very real pushing back at him when he stood at the front of the room leading discussions. It felt, he said, as if people were reluctant to engage in ways that were honest, authentic or that put themselves at risk.

Because Kansans live in a relatively small state of fewer than 3 million people, I wonder if conflict just hits so much closer to home here. Even in some of the state’s larger communities, it is not unusual for people to be connected in multiple ways.

Continued on Page 8......

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Lawrence’s Largest Office Party Cocktails with your Coworkers

July 20th Wednesday, he Ninth -T Oread The Nest on

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“Kansas Nice” and Leadership continued from page 7 The person one might disagree with at a city commission over a proposed ordinance may have been one’s college roommate or the same person who owns the popular city pub. In disagreeing with him, one risks losing not only the debate, but also a friend and a comfortable place in the community. Relationships can unravel on multiple levels as a result of these sticky social networks.

It does seem as though “Kansas nice” represents a barrier to building healthier communities in Kansas. If the goal is always to be conciliatory above all else, then it’s hard to bring to the surface deeper conflicts and deal with truly painful subjects. Changing significantly, in the view of The KLC, requires being more accepting of conflict, ambiguity and uncertainty.

“Kansas nice” pushes us in the opposite direction. It leads citizens toward changes designed to make the pain and heat go away quickly. It does not provide much of a path for addressing the more heart-wrenching, underlying issues that underscore deep, intractable problems.

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So, if it isn’t “Kansas nice,” then what way of being should be the aspiration?

How about “Kansas courageous?” It’s part of our history.

How else could Kansans have formed nascent communities under the most trying of conditions? How else could Kansans have taken up the cause of abolition, routed the Ku Klux Klan or played significant roles in bolstering the cause of civil rights?

Kansans, including myself, need to model “Kansas nice” less and make a conscious choice of being “Kansas courageous.” The type of civic leadership needed to tackle deeply entrenched problems is risky and difficult work. It means stepping outside one’s comfort zone, taking smart risks, engaging adversaries and those who are disengaged and taking actions to spark progress despite the uncertainty of the outcome.

This article is excerpted and printed, with permission, from the Kansas Leadership Journal. The author is Chris Green, a Topeka-based journalist.

Welcome New Chamber Members Airport Development Group

Airport Consultants AGENT: Tanya Kulaga - Realtor, CRS, ABR, GRI

Real Estate - Buyer’s Broker Big O Tires

Tire Dealers Bold In Life, LLC

Business Consulting B-Street Design, School of International Hairstyling

Schools - Specialty Brubacher Building Workshop

Remodeling & Repairs Chamber2Go by Metro Media Publications

Chamber Mobile Apps Cupcake Construction Company Caterers Frontier Farm Credit Banks Indepsys, Inc.

Technology Support Johnson County Community College Education The Johnson Group, LLC

Contractors - Construction Joy Neely

Real Estate - Residential & Farm Keller Williams Real Estate - Linda Trotter

Real Estate - Residential & Farm K’s Tire Service, Inc.

Tire Dealers Kieu’s, Inc.

Clothing - Women’s Krsnich Investment Group, LLC

Real Estate Developers & Investors

LED Source

Light Bulbs & Tubes Liz Karr Catering, Inc. Caterers LWK Associates, LLC

Accounting & Tax Services Made Shop, Inc.

Specialty Retail M D Management

Real Estate Developers & Investors Meadowlark Estates

Retirement Communities Mr. Dennis Meier Retired Mr. Rooter Plumbers Safe Harbour

Outpatient Therapy Tortas Jalisco

Restaurant and Bar Total Pet Care

Pet Sitting Services Vintage Park at Tonganoxie

Assisted Living Facilities

For complete business information visit the online Business Directory at www.lawrencechamber.com.

Refe

r a n ew m embe and r get a $25 Cham Gift ber Card

A Celebration of Independence for and by people with disabilities July 23 | Ramp Up for Independence Poker Run at Slow Ride July 26 | Champion of Independence Luncheon at Maceli’s July 27 | ADA Celebration at The Oread Hotel July 29 | Wine-Down at Davenport Winery, Eudora

www.independenceinc.org

For more information contact Meghan Kinley at 841.0333 ext. 143 / mkinley@independenceinc.org

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Seminar Series Sponsored by:

The Right Start *

A group learning session for start-ups Considering starting a company? In this fast-paced, hour and a half long session, you will learn the key items associated with starting a company and some of the pitfalls to avoid. The session will be conducted in an interactive group format so individual questions can be addressed. Extensive companion resource notebook may be purchased for $20. Price for the Session: FREE (please pre-register) All sessions will be held at the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, 646 Vermont St., Ste. 200

Tues, July 12 6:00 – 8:00 PM

Tues, July 26 6:00 – 8:00 PM

Tues, August 16 6:00 – 8:00 PM

Tues, August 30 6:00 – 8:00 PM

Tues, September 13 6:00 – 8:00 PM

Tues, September 27 6:00 – 8:00 PM * This free class is strongly recommended to new KU-KSBDC clients who are starting or planning to start a business prior to seeking individual counseling.

Let’s Write a Business Plan!

A step by step, guided workshop

Seminar attendees will collaborate with KU-KSBDC staff to write a business plan in this three hour, hands-on seminar. At the end of the session, you will have a basic sample business plan and a template you can use to write your very own business plan. This class is recommended for start-up and early-stage businesses as a follow-up to “The Right Start” seminar. Cost: $20 All sessions will be held at the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, 646 Vermont St., Ste. 200

Friday, July 15 1:00 – 3:00 PM

Friday, August 26 1:00 – 3:00 PM

Friday, September 23 1:00 – 3:00 PM

Setting Up E-mail Newsletters Using Mailchimp to enhance your business Want to stay top of mind with your best clients and potential customers? You can use Mailchimp’s free service (for up to 2,000 subscribers) to send branded emails with information about your business’ products, events, and promotions. In this two hour class, you’ll be introduced to the Mailchimp platform and will actually set up the template you’ll need for a customized newsletter with your company’s logo and styling. Bring your laptop (with wifi capability) so that you can create your newsletter during this guided workshop. (If you don’t have a laptop, a small number of laptops are available - let us know when you RSVP so that we can reserve one for you.) Cost: $20 Friday, July 22 1:00 – 3:00 PM Lawrence Chamber of Commerce, 646 Vermont St., Ste. 200

RESERVE YOUR SPOT TODAY – CALL 785-843-8844 or register online: http://ksbdc.ecenterdirect.com/Conferences.action 10

Chamber Staff Is Here To Help YOU.......

Meredithe M cCormick, Membership Sales Executi ve 785-865-67 66 meredithean dgary@sunfl ower.com

Tom Kern, President/CEO tkern@lawrencechamber.com Cathy Lewis, Vice Pres. Membership, IOM clewis@lawrencechamber.com Beth Johnson, Vice Pres. Economic Development bjohnson@lawrencechamber.com Sue Hack, Executive Director Leadership Lawrence shack@lawrencechamber.com Christy Bogner, Accountant & Director of Operations cbogner@lawrencechamber.com

Hank Booth, Dir. of Government & Community Affairs hbooth@lawrencechamber.com Eileen Hawley, Dir. of Business Retention & Marketing E.D. ehawley@lawrencechamber.com Adam Handshy, Manager of Special Projects & Programs ahandshy@lawrencechamber.com Darlene Lantz, Administrative Assistant dlantz@lawrencechamber.com Alice Hunt, Communications Assistant ahunt@lawrencechamber.com

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September 14 5:30-7:30pm Meadowbrook Apt. Grounds

The Crown Automotive Valor Awards Golf Tournament Friday, October 7, 1:00pm Alvamar Public Golf Course This year’s event is proudly sponsored by:

Valor Public Safety Awards Ceremony Tuesday, October 18, 11:30-1:30pm Holiday Inn, Regency Ballroom This year’s presenting sponsor:

The Valor Public Safety Awards and Scholarship Program is an effort of the Lawrence Foundation and the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce to recognize and thank those members of our community’s public safety organizations that go above and beyond the normal call of duty.

In appreciation for their dedication and service, the Valor Scholarship Program provides a onetime $1,000 stiepad for children of Valor honorees for their higher education expenses.

Please visit www.lawrencechamber.com for more information on the Valor Program and Events.

Ribbon Cuttings

Famous Dave’s 4931 W. 6th St. Phoenix Gallery ~ 825 Massachusetts

Lied Center ~ 1600 Stewart Dr.

2011 LHBA Home Show

Pinnacle Career Institute Wind Turbine Tech. Program 1601 W. 23rd St.

Larsen & Associates ~ 1311 E. 25th St., Ste. B

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Lawrence Business Expo 2011 & Economic Forecast Breakfast Tuesday, November 1 Holiday Inn Holidome, 200 McDonald Dr.

Business Expo 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Economic Forecast Breakfast 7:30-9 a.m.

As one of the community’s premier networking events, Business Expo 2011 serves as a platform for local businesses to showcase their products and services. Exhibitors are able to engage in face-toface discussions with potential business partners and clients, forging qualified leads and gaining valuable exposure.

The 2011 Economic Forecast Breakfast will include a National Economic presentation by US Bank Chief Economist as well as a regional forecast prepaired by the City and County as well as anecdotal industry forecasts prepared by representative companies selected from the Chamber’s extensive membership. The breakfast will be held in Holiday Inn’s Brazilian Room, from 7:30-9 a.m. and serve as the kickoff for the Business Expo to immediately follow. The Economic Forecast Breakfast and keynote economist presentation are made possible by:

Far different from the Business Showcase of previous years, the Expo will be held in Holdiay Inn’s Regency Ballroom as a full-day event and, will not only be open to the Chamber membership, but will be open to the general public for both exhibitor participation and attendance.

The Chamber would like to thank this year’s Presenting Expo Sponsor*:

Reserve your booth starting August 1 using our easy Online Registration!

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For more information, please visit our website www.lawrencechamber.com or contact Adam Handshy at 785.865.4427 or ahandshy@lawrencechamber.com *The Business Expo 2011 is a new event and previous Business Showcase tier benefits do not apply.

Test Your Chamber Member Knowledge Match the local business with the correct business description, submit your answers to cbogner@lawrencechamber.com and win a $25 Chamber Gift Certificate. First three Chamber members to respond win.

A. API Foils B. Vangent C. PROSOCO D. Kinedyne E. Martin Logan F. Deciphera G. Amarr H. Crititech I. Propolon J. Garmin K. Avagard L. BrighteHR M. Schlumberger N. Berry Plastics O. Del Monte P. Lawrence Paper Co. Q. Lawrence Memorial Hospital R. Hallmark S. Allen Press T. Hamm Company

1. Kinase Switch Inhibitor 2. Mental Health Software Company 3. Has Anticoagulation Center 4. Custom Formulation of Concrete Cleanes 5. Composite Panel Garage Door Manufacturer 6. Rock and Sand Co. 7. MHz Distortion Manufacturer 8. Corrugated Box Manufacturer 9. Large Molecule Drug Formulation 10. Thermal Forming Company 11. FCC E-Rate Program Provider 12. Produces Cargo Nets for C-130 13. Makes Kibbles and Bits 14. Electric Records System for States 15. Association Publisher 16. Supercharged CO2 Small Molecule Devleoper 17. GPS Software Developer 18. Vulcanized Rubber Insulation Wire Company 19. Greeting Card Manufacuter 20. Polyisocyanurate Form Sheeting

Ribbon Cuttings

Pine Family Landscape Center 1783 E. 1500 Rd.

LHBA Spring Parade of Homes 841 Coving Dr.

Douglas County Bank ~ 1444 Kasold

2011 Board of Directors

Officers Cindy Yulich, Emprise Bank ~ Board of Directors Chair May Hoy, Stevens and Brand ~ Past Chair

(Vice Chair of Leadership Lawrence) John Ross, Laser Logic, Inc. ~ Incoming Chair

(Vice Chair of University Relations) Doug Gaumer, INTRUST Bank ~ Treasurer Tom Kern, President/CEO ~ Secretary Permanent Ex-Officio Positions Tim Caboni, KU Vice Chancellor of Public Affairs Steve Prue, Haskell Indian Nations University Dr. Rick Doll, USD 497 Superintendent Board of Directors Bradley Burnside, U.S. Bank

(Co-Vice Chair of Economic Development) Bill Fuerst, KU School of Business Rodger Henry, Lawrence Medical Plaza Debra Vignatelli Konzem, BrightEHR

(Co-Vice Chair of Government & Community Affairs) Trudy Rice, Rice Enterprises Linda Robinson Steve Schwada, Meadowbrook Apts.

Lawrence Chamber of Commerce 646 Vermont St., Ste. 200 Lawrence, KS 66044

To:

Todd Thompson, Thompson, Ramsdell & Qualseth, P.A. Sheryle D’Amico, Lawrence Memorial Hospital George Grieb, Lynn Electric, Inc. ~ (Vice Chair Comm/Operations) Saralyn Reece Hardy, Spencer Museum of Art Tim Herndon, Landscape Architect/Planner Frank Male, Lawrence Landscape ~ (Vice Chair Membership) Jeffrey Morrison, Prairie Asset Management Group

(Co-Vice Chair of Economic Development) George Paley, Paley Properties/Caspian Group Delbert Phlipot, Amarr Garage Door Philip Brown, ICL Performance Products Ken Hite, Mize, Houser & Company ~ Finance Committee Ernesto Hodison, Douglas County Bank Chad Luce, Westar Energy Mike McGrew, McGrew Real Estate

(Co-Vice Chair Government & Community Affairs) Miles Schnaer, Crown Automotive Paul Werner, Paul Werner Architects Constance Wolfe, Halcyon House & Lawrence Giveback If you or someone you know would like to become a Chamber Board of Director member for 2012, please submit name, contact information & a brief description to Christy at cbogner@lawrencechamber.com.