​Ad Hockers talked this morning of subtle signs and symbols that indicate to individuals whether a place is worth exploring for them specifically. 
        Some look for those who look like themselves — age, race, clothing and more. Others look for sparks of creativity or independent thought in public places. In rural areas, a sign or symbol to a Millenial, for example, might be that high-speed interest service is fast — that someone could live out of their phone.  
       Most people who see Lindsborg for the first time are just trying to put themselves on our streets as visitors or in our neighborhoods, homes and classrooms for a longer-term stay. What would it be like to get out and walk around? What would life be like here? How do people find their way around, find friends?  Outside job and church, where are crossroads to connect?  Places to exercise and learn? Coffeeshops and bars? Volunteer opportunities? It’s important to constantly reassess our community through the eyes of someone new or with a background different than our own. What are the signs and symbols that are friendly to other eyes?
       So we asked ourselves:  What new signals might we be able to send to people of a variety of backgrounds in the coming year?  We’ll be talking about this again next week.
        Meanwhile, we identified one improvement that are acting on immediately.  We will be including a general message “from your Lindsborg neighbors” in each of the welcome bags that local business and organizations offer to new city utility customers.  These bags already are popular — and we can do a better job affirming new residents’ choice and show them specific ways to wade in to our community.  Much work to do.  If you have ideas, tell an Ad Hocker or better yet, come sit in from 8-9 a.m. most Mondays at City Hall. 
___________________

        An ongoing challenge for Lindsborg is telling its story in a nation (heavens, even in our own state) where fewer people than ever have experienced rural quality of life.  
       We thought you would enjoy reading how Jim Prugh describes to his colleagues in the vacation rental industry his historic preservation projects in Lindsborg that blends with short-term rentals (STR, in the parlance). 
       At the following link, Jim speaks with an editor at “Rent Responsibly,” which advocates and celebrates the huge world of vacation rentals.  He makes the case for rural places among his vacation rental colleagues nationally. Thanks, Jim! 
 
https://medium.com/rent-responsibly/rent-responsibly-makes-its-mark-in-kansas-5baeb4e4c80d?mc_cid=6a9d21e95e&mc_eid=f9c9f4fc56

_______________________

        Pondering economics and partnerships along the growing I-135 corridor?  Here’s a piece from a online publication spearheaded by the Bastian family in Wichita on a website called The Chung Report:

https://thechungreport.com/wichitas-regional-economy-explained/

​Reminder: Please deliver your/your organization’s 40 promotional items to Betty Nelson or Cynthia Woodard at Lindsborg Community Hospital asap.  New resident bag stuffing is nigh.
       Please consider lending a piece of art to Lindsborg Collects, the community’s popular spring and Messiah season exhibit of our own residents’ favorite or unusual works of fine art or craft by a Lindsborg-connected artist. The exhibit will be from March 2 to April 2. Thanks to historic preservationist Jim Prugh, Lindsborg Collects has a wonderful temporary home at 105 N.Main Street, the former home of Reminiscent Antiques.  To offer an item for display, contact Marsha Howe at 785-906-0504 or Carol Gusenius at 785-906-0285 or drop the piece by the Red Barn Studio at 212 S., Main or Lindsborg Realty, 124 E. Lincoln.  Deadline coming up soon:  Friday, Feb. 23
       The Millenial Generation (age 20-36) is shaping up to be  distinctive group for locations that welcome visitors. Did you know that millenials are more likely to say that travel and adventure is the key to raising well-rounded children? Research shows that millenials take two to three trips a year as families, and their vacation spending is expected to increase significantly this year and next.  
      That means Lindsborg needs to be ever more ready to recognize and serve younger families as visitors. We never know the imprint that our community will make upon them or how they may find themselves in Lindsborg again — for college education, future travel stops, or as their ideal place to live.
      Some thoughts from travel professionals:
      • Put yourself in the place of a parent or guardian traveling with children. Expect that children will test boundaries and need nap breaks and diaper changes. Any way Lindsborg can create more conveniences around traveling families?   
       • Traveling millennial families are more often racially diverse or blended, among other qualities. Are we aware in how we greet and talk with millennial families?  Do we make assumptions?
       •  Millenials enjoy finding hidden gems and getting off the beaten path.  It’s what researchers call authentic travel. Sometimes adding value to a millennial family trip is as simple providing them access to soccer balls, games like marbles and playing cards, or the ability to test or handle items that locals use or treasure.  
      We hope to talk about this topic in a future Ad Hoc gathering.  If you have ideas and can't attend from 8 to 9 a.m. Mondays at City Hall, just send your idea along with an Ad Hocker. Or give us an email here, as always.

​Three cheers. Ad Hockers start every Monday morning with them. Come what may, we are in kinship about keeping the good mojo flowing. Appreciation is a big part of that effort.
     Today there were shoutouts to:
     • Don Bengtson and Dwight Swisher, the Lindsborg Quarterback Club, and SVHS After Prom Committee for warmly welcoming hundreds of players and family members this past weekend to Mid America Youth Basketball games hosted in Lindsborg.  We appreciate you all.
      • Lindsborg Arts Council, whose board held a planning retreat this past weekend and who will host the annual Chocolate Lovers party and art auction this weekend. That’s 7 p.m. this Saturday, Feb. 10, at the J.O. Sundstrom Center. Tickets are at the door; they open the way to chocolate art and edibles, laughs with great good company, and the announcement of the 2018 Artist of the Year. Proceeds go to LAC’s scholarship fund, which in the past has been able to bestow two $1,500 awards to local students.
      • Bethany College for releasing the third in a series of video spots.  See it here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t5HjMYH_WX4 See two past spots -- here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGtdBsF7utQ,
and here  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXOiXZ63oDA  

__________________

      One of Ad Hoc’s early goals was to improve relationships with Bethany College. That’s why as one of our first efforts was a yearly reception for Bethany’s faculty and staff — to build social ties and to simply recognize them. Almost six years later, we continue this effort. This year’s BC faculty and staff reception is from 5 to 6:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 12, at the Ol Stuga. We encourage you to stop by and bring a friend.  Better yet, we hope you’d be willing to chip in as we pass the virtual hat among us for this gathering. Checks can made out to Lindsborg At Work Association and dropped at Small World Gallery or First Bank Kansas. Until then, thanks, BC faculty and staff — hard-working and caring people who have been double-timing their pace in recent years as the college continues to spin up.

–––––––––––––––––––

      Would you like to experience for just one hour what it’s like to bring heartwarming and wacky waffle happiness to our town?  Then be a Waffle Person during Lindsborg Vaffeldagen, Saturday, March 24.  We’ll have five people roaming in hourly shifts from at least 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.  Email your preferred hour-long slot to Jan Cambridge-Lewis at jcamlewis@gmail.com.  If you’ve never done this particular volunteer job before, no worries. We’ll pair you with an  Experienced Waffle. Food providers alert: Please plan for an even more successful Waffle Day in Lindsborg. Based on advance calls to the Lindsborg CVB and having been publicized in Kansas! Magazine last fall, the pace should be good all day.  More details to come.

​Just a quick note to flag this weekend as an Mid America Youth Basketball (MAYB) tourney weekend.  Be prepared for busier streets, especially around schools. Local restaurants and services should also be aware.

For comfort food, all of Lindsborg's restaurants and take-outs always help -- and this weekend, so will Lindsborg Boy Scout Troop 120.  The troop is offering spaghetti, garlic bread and salad by free-will donation from 11 am to 1 pm on Sunday, Feb. 4, at Bethany Church.

Wishing you warmth and wellness this weekend!