​Here’s quick round-up of Ad Hoc discussions, questions and comments from the past three weeks:
     •  Ad Hoc was grateful for the recent background briefing from the Rev. Jeff Waugh and the Rev. Chris Carlson about the operations of The Associated Churches of Lindsborg, known as TACOL (tack’-el) in local parlance. It continues an essential  tradition of helping, and one of its many projects is the popular Thrift Store at 509 E. Swensson. (Let's say a warm thanks to all the community members who volunteer there. And those who donate items)  Proceeds from store sales are put back to work in the community. Ad Hoc heard more about the scope of TACOL's work and funding — as well as current challenges and evolutions in working with those of us in poverty.  Thanks again, Jeff and Chris, for taking time with us.
      •  Shoutout to the makers of Broadway RFD 2018 and its audiences.  Thanks for creating and supporting live theater in our town.
      •  Don’t miss the Makers Street “busker edition” from 5-8 p.m. Friday, Aug. 10. Would you be willing to do some street side entertainment for this event — singing, dancing, playing an instrument, hoola hooping, juggling, street theater?  Just for fun.  Here’s your invitation to join in. Really. Get an act together and call Tayla Mace at The White Peacock to arrange a busking location.  Would love to see you.
      •  Our friend and colleague Deb Briggs has announced that her Trollslanda Toy Store is for sale and that she and her family are moving to Copenhagen. If you or someone you know would like to buy the inventory of a delightful business with a great rental location that many families and grandparents have come to rely on, get with Deb. Now. That’s debbriggs@gmail.com.  It’s difficult to lose Deb and her family. In a word, pffffft.  (On the bright side: We’ll have a hometown contact in Copenhagen.) Bon voyage, Deb! 
      •  Connected Fair Trade will celebrate five years in downtown Lindsborg this Friday. Amy Kay Pavlovich and the Connected staff over the years have contributed *so much* to the substance and vibe in Lindsborg, and we thank them.  Please stop by, whether Friday or another time, to add your words to Connected’s celebration. 
     •  As we approach the 150th anniversary of Lindsborg in 2019 and the extra company that's sure to come, it’s time to take a more urgent and critical look at our spaces.   Improvements and cleanup can begin now as the weather moderates.  Please: take a look at every aspect of your place’s exterior. What looks tired? Paint? Outdoor seating? Flower pots? Signage? Sometimes it’s difficult to look at everyday sights with new eyes. Ask your friends and neighbors to look with you and solicit their kind suggestions. Say, sponsors of public art: How does your piece look?  Art panels at Viking Village Playground? Public art throughout the community? Wild Dala Horses?  Should they come off display or can they be refurbished? Don’t wait. Ask for help and ideas and get organized. Of special note: Stubborn weedy patches and lonely corners. These can be more attractive with some moderate effort and expense — and ultimately can turn into places that need far less maintenance. Ask for help and kind suggestions.  Let’s swing into action, folks.
       •  We’re thinking with the Lindsborg CVB about ways to further the cause of overnight stays. Sometimes it’s as simple as encouraging friends and family or visitors to stay instead of drive on. Or consider a long weekend here.  Meanwhile, it also will be important to invent or extend events to make it worth an overnight stay for some of Lindsborg’s historic and natural audiences. We also are focused on spreading the news of weekday event and meeting availabilities at the J.O. Sundstrom Conference Center.  We’ve been working on this since Ad Hoc came to be almost six years ago. There has been good progress, and that work continues.
       •  Lindsborg is seeing more success in attracting larger meetings and events to the Sundstrom Center (a doll convention this year and a 2019 museum association meeting, for example). That also means use of overnight accommodations beyond those that can be offered in Lindsborg. The CVB works with lodging establishments within easy driving distance when needed and asked. However, the issue of transportation between Lindsborg and these lodging establishments crops up more often now. Conference organizers are asking for shuttle vehicles to be provided so their members can enjoy the community without worry about finding their way back to their lodgings.  It is an amenity that larger communities are able to provide to larger overnight groups.
      •  What does it mean for us when a lesser level of hospitality is offered at area and statewide recreational events --  hiking, biking among them —on roads and properties associated with Lindsborg? What could it mean if Lindsborg were able to field a few volunteers for select events to improve welcoming and guidance to our area?

​Hello all:
Here's the latest draft of the Ad Hoc calendar for the remainder of 2018. It continues to develop as we get more information. ________________________
​August
4 Smoky Valley Car Show at Swensson Park
6 open house, newly renovated Alma Swensson Hall, Bethany College, 7 p.m.
10 Makers Street 5-8 p.m. Theme: “Busking”
12 Bethany Home’s annual ice cream social, 6:30-8:30 p.m. feat. “Silvertones” vocal group
12-19 Visit to Lindsborg by blogger and international vacation rental advocate Matt Landau
13 No Ad Hoc gathering
14 Special Ad Hoc gathering with possible videography by Matt Landau, 8-9 a.m. city council chambers
17 Community Water Fight, Swensson Park, featuring Lindsborg Volunteer Fire Department, 5:30 p.m., no fee (contact Mike Dreier, Fuqua Agency)
18 NEW EVENT Downtown Scavenger Hunt for new Bethany College students and families, 3-5 p.m. pre-register to be a stop for students/parents by Friday, Aug. 3, contact Ashtyn Snider or Andrea Allen at snidera@bethanylb.edu
18 Lindsborg Landmark Concert, “Everyday Lights” at Old Mill Bridge, 8 p.m. no fee (contact Mike Dreier, Fuqua Agency)
20 Bethany College Job Fair, pairing part-time student workers with potential employers, 3-5 p.m. Wallerstedt Learning Center, employers pre-register by Aug. 13, contact rethorstcr@bethanylb.edu
25 Downtown Street Dance “Free Range Chicken” from 8-11 p.m, opening performer Sam Unruh from 6:30-7:30, no fee (contact David Hay, First Bank Kansas, and Meg Dauer, American Family Insurance)
25 BBQ Competition and Frisbee Feed to benefit Smoky Valley After Prom; pre-register to compete by Aug. 17, frisbee feed at 6 p.m. $7 per person including sandwich, chips, beans (contact Vonceil Heble vheblecox.net or Roxie Sjogren sjogrenr@bethanylb.edu)
? Ad Hoc reception for Bethany College faculty and staff
September
3 Labor Day, no Ad Hoc gathering
12 LCH Auxiliary "Meat and Greet” sloppy joe lunch 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Trinity Church
14 Makers Street, 5-8 p.m. Theme: “Petember”
28 Hymn Festival at Bethany College/Lutheran Church Musicians
28-30 Prairie Festival, Salina
29-30 Swedish Genealogy Workshop/Old Mill/all day
30 Bethany Home dinner, silent and live auction with keynote speaker, Sundstrom Center
October
12 Makers Street, 5-8 p.m. Theme: Bethany alums/students/staff
13 Bethany College homecoming
13 Coronado Heights Run, 7:30 a.m. Main and Lincoln
14 Falun Classic Bicycle Ride, 1 p.m. 400 bl of N. Main
20 Kasino Royale, a Svensk Hyllningsfest fundraiser, 6-10 p.m., Sundstrom Center
27 Raymer Society art auction
31 Halloween
November
9 Makers Street 5-8 p.m. Theme: holiday gift walk (Possible Holiday Window Unveiling)
10 Lindsborg Open House (contact Molly Johnson, The Good Merchant, with others tba)
12 Veterans Day, no Ad Hoc gathering
22 Thanksgiving
24 Small Business Saturday (contacts Debbie Jacobson, Bank of Tescott, Tara Killingsworth, The Ivory Thimble, et al)
December
1 Artists Studio Open House (contact the Raymer Society)
1 Snowflake Parade (contacts Carla Wilson artist, Kimi Stolzenburg at Hairymolairys, Liz Lahodny at Lindsborg Realty)
2 Jultide at Bethany College
8 Lucia Festival (contact Lindsborg Swedish Folk Dancers with Ad Hoc coordination by Mari Loder, Caldwell Banker Antrim Piper, Wenger Real Estate)
8 possible “Freeze Your Brass Off” in Swensson Park?
8 Old-Fashioned Christmas at the McPherson Council Old Mill, evening
15 Cookie event at First Bank Kansas (contact by David Hay)
15 exploring possible evening caroling and horse drawn carriage rides downtown
25 Christmas Day
25 Julotta/Bethany Church
26 Annadag Jul/Bethany Church
31 Lindsborg Sesquicentennial kickoff party at the Sundstrom Center

​More about August...
       Let’s kick off the month as we usually do — with the Smoky Valley Car Show on Saturday, Aug. 4.  Browse those sweet rides parked under Swensson Park’s generous canopy of tree. All day. Thanks to the sponsors and veteran volunteer committee that make smooth work of this attraction each year.
       Then comes a week’s visit from international vacation rental advocate and blogger Matt Landau.  That’s Sunday, Aug. 12, to Sunday, Aug. 19.  The July 16 News and Notes described the significance of Matt’s visit.
       On Friday, Aug. 17, brace for Lindsbcorg's ever-popular Community Water Fight. That’s 5:30 p.m. at Swensson Park. Business sponsors are teaming up with Lindsborg’s great volunteer fire department to spout big water and provide a temporary pool for refilling everyone’s squirt toys. A dry zone is available for delighted watchers. Preceding the water fight in the park will be free art projects for children, and the products will be used to help spruce up the Viking Valley playground. More to come on this.
       Here’s back-to-back fun. From 3-5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 18, new and transferring Bethany College students and their families will be on a scavenger hunt in downtown Lindsborg.  Of course, anyone and everyone is invited to come out and say hi to these VIPs. The main purpose is for students to collect stickers and selfies at various locations downtown as a way to get to know Lindsborg and what (and who) is available to help.  Business and organizations that want to be on the scavenger hunt, please register by Aug. 3.
       At 8 p.m that same day, Saturday, Aug. 18, don’t miss the next amazing Lindsborg Landmark Concert. Bring your lawn chairs to the Old Mill Bridge to hear the six-member band "Everyday Lights” including Lindsborg’s own Gus Applequist.  The band bills itself as "classically trained musicians not playing classical music" — said otherwise, an alternative folk sound with great delivery and style.  Free admission, thanks to sponsors.
      On Monday, Aug. 20, there’s the Bethany College Job Fair that we noted in an earlier News and Notes.  That’s 3-5 p.m. at Wallerstedt Learning Center by advance registration for employers.  Find the Bethany College part-time student workers you want and need.
       Then on Saturday, Aug. 25, don’t miss one savory and rockin' Lindsborg double header: First comes a BBQ competition and supper benefitting Smoky Valley After Prom. Then comes the annual Lindsborg street dance, this year featuring the band "Free Range Chicken" from 8 to 11 p.m. with opening music by singer/songwriter Sam Unruh from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m.  Pasted in below are details on the BBQ — both competition and serving. The street dance is yet another complimentary evening of entertainment for everyone sponsored by local businesses.
      Yikes, hope all the details are correct in this quick write-through. We’ll try to keep you updated.

After several three cheers for the past weekend’s events and efforts, Ad Hockers talked about August.  It’s going to be a jumpin’ place next month.  
     A fuller description of August is being pulled together for a following News and Notes coming shortly.  For today, we are focusing your attention on two opportunities related to the return of students to Bethany College in August:
     1.  Bethany College is organizing a free job fair for local employers to meet potential part-time student workers. The Bethany College Fall Job Fair will be Monday, Aug. 20, from 3 to 5 p.m. in Lindquist Hall in Wallerstedt Learning Center on campus.
     For clarity: This job fair brings together area employers offering currently available or soon-available part-time jobs with interested and qualified student candidates. For a business  promotion opportunity, pls see #2 below.
     Reserve a place at Bethany’s Fall Job Fair by filling out a   short form no later than noon Monday, Aug. 13.  Here's the link: https://tinyurl.com/Fall2018JobFairEmployers 
     Questions? Please contact Caitlyn Rethorst, BC’s assistant dean of student development, at 227-3380 ext. 8274 or    rethorstcr@bethanylb.edu.
     P.S.  If your organization would like to provide an internship  offering experience based education for students who could earn college credit, Caitlyn also is the Bethany contact person. it is an underused but fairly flexible program that can be rewarding for both students and businesses. We'll talk about this more at Ad Hoc soon.

     2.  For Lindsborg businesses and organizations that would like to promote themselves to new Bethany students, Bethany College has organized this new event: the 2018 Bethany College Swede Days Scavenger Hunt on Saturday, Aug. 18, from 3 to 5 p.m.   This event replaces the day-long business expo that had been held on Sundays for new students and their parents.
     The scavenger hunt was expressly designed to bring students and their parents/guardians (and their questions about Lindsborg) face-to-face with us in downtown Lindsborg. Students will be asked to “scavenge” photographs on their phones and collect tokens or stickers from each scavenger hunt participant on the prepared list.
     Okay, folks, this is the Lindsborg community's opportunity to create a celebration and warm atmosphere for these new students and their corresponding adults. Coupons! Drawings! Small gifts! Snacks and refreshments! Take-away information! Signs of welcome! Please plan now how you can represent -- and roll out the red carpet to reinforce the college-community connection.
     BC organizers want to keep this event walkable for students and parents; thus, we will need to work with friends and neighbors to set up in the downtown area if someone's business or organization is not actually situated downtown. Reach out to those who might like to share space.
      To participate in the scavenger hunt, please register no later than Friday, Aug. 3. Send the following information to BC’s orientation director Ashtyn Snider at snidera@bethanylb.edu. If questions, call her at 227-3380, ext. 8230.  Gotta be registered to be on the scavenger hunt, folks.
 
Business name:

Physical address where students can find you during the scavenger hunt: 

Contact email address:

Business website:

Representatives to be on hand (if known):


​

​Let’s be alert the week of Sunday, Aug. 12. International vacation rental advocate and blogger Matt Landau will bring a two-person video crew to Lindsborg for the whole week to explore the topic of vacation rentals in a rural setting.  It’s a new topic for the influential Landau, whose focus has largely been on urban or well-known vacation rental destinations — Italy, Spain, Hawaii, and so on.
       While here that entire week, Landau will be videotaping an episode of his program “Sense of Place,” a digital series that explores travel destinations in the context of vacation rentals and their hosts worldwide.  If you’d like to preview shows from the first season of “Sense of Place,” go here:   https://www.vrmb.com/sense-of-place-show/
      How did Landau find Lindsborg?  Lindsborg vacation rental owner and historic preservationist Jim Prugh had been corresponding with Matt over the past couple of years about vacation rentals with a distinctively rural sense of place. Matt decided to come see for himself, to experience what it would mean to 'live like a local' for one week here in Lindsborg.  Jim tells us, "Matt's spotlight on Lindsborg is a big deal in the international vacation rental industry."
      This visit presents a key opportunity for Lindsborg. Matt Landau has been successful at building his own vacation rentals, as well as describing how to enjoy the relatively new travel concept of vacation rentals. Further, he has been able to see and articulate qualities that others may underestimate or overlook. Part of Landau’s philosophy is that "people with no previous experience or training can do truly ​world-class things if they surround themselves with the right people.”  This philosophy is bound up in Matt's enthusiasm for a strong sense of place.
      Certainly Lindsborg’s 3,500 people are many of the right people to show the beauties of creating, relaxing, being inspired, reflecting, and engaging with others in a rural setting.  Our town has fashioned an almost 150-year reputation for people doing world-class things in a rather remote area.  If he likes what he experiences here, Matt may well be just the right person to help us paint a more interesting picture of 'living like a local' in little Lindsborg — for residents, retirees, professionals and visitors alike.  
      Jim Prugh will be working with Matt on a list of activities that Matt and his crew would like to experience while in Lindsborg.  Jim himself will be in town during that time, of course; however, Jim and Matt want to work up a several opportunities *that any other guest could enjoy* in central Kansas when they come to stay here in Lindsborg.  
       If you have suggestions for Jim to forward to Matt for his week’s stay in Lindsborg, reply to this email and we’ll collect your ideas for Jim.  In the meantime, please note this week on your calendar and stay tuned for more details.

​This Friday evening, July 13, Lindsborg will be (we hope) The Nexus of Pie. Pie Central. Pie Place. Our friends who organize Lindsborg's second Friday Makers Street events -- this month it's about pies -- need our help to make it happen.

Two options:

•  Enter Makers Street's homemade contest.

•  Bring a pie of any provenance for Makers Street "pie luck."  Like a potluck, just with pies only.

Now, we know from experience that massively talented piemakers reside in 67456 and neighboring areas. C'mon and share your Art of Pie -- and pass the word, please.  Thanks.

​A big cheer went up this morning for the Old-Fashioned Fourth of July program at Swensson Park and community fireworks at Bethany College. Ad Hockers are grateful for this community collaboration and for each and every person who played a role. Entertainment, activities and food at the park were delightful. With calm winds aloft, the very satisfying fireworks show went smoothly. 
       Here are some thanks: to Molly Johnson and friends of The Good Merchant for helping with the Swensson Park events. To the City of Lindsborg for its park and other preparations. To the Lindsborg Kiwanis Club for again permitting the fireworks show to come under its insurance umbrella and to Bethany College for its gracious hosting at its athletic stadium. To Ahlstedt Fireworks and showmeister Bob Alhstedt for his key role. To all the local organizations, individuals and businesses that paid for the show.  And one final cheer — to David Hay of First Bank Kansas. David spearheaded this big collaboration several years ago and continues to serve as shepherd and chief fundraiser.
_______

      Other cheer-worthy items:

• The J.O, Sundstrom Conference Center was named a finalist in The Salina Journal’s “Best of…” promotion. Nicely done!

• Community education continues as Circles of McPherson County renames itself Steps of McPherson County. Steps continues in the Circle aim: to be way for neighbors to walk alongside those who want to learn paths out of poverty.  The name change comes because Circles, a national organization, chose to become local case management sites for state and federal programs.  McPherson County’s local program leadership preferred to remain independent of state and federal mandates.  Steps is on its own — a move that has been generally well-received — and now home-grown support is more important than ever.  You can learn more about what it takes to become an intentional friend to those who are learning and working on independence, choices and growth.  That’s 9 am to 2 pm at the Covenant Church on Saturday, July 28, with lunch served.  Just show up or call director Chris Carlson at 620-241-9011.