News and Notes 05/22/2017

Calendar-worthy dates and reminders:
• Community Water Fight rescheduled because of weather. New date is 5:30 p.m. Thursday, May 25, at Swensson Park.
• 40 promotional items to Betty Nelson at Lindsborg Community Hospital by Monday, June 5, for new resident welcome bags.
• Complimentary cherry limeades at Peoples Bank & Trust from 9 to 4 Friday, June 2. This means you, too.
• Midsummer’s Festival, Saturday, June 17.

​Kasi Morales of GO McPherson will be in Lindsborg with a video crew — Thursday, probably. Kasi's objective: collaborate with Lindsborg to create video material that can be used to promote the whole of McPherson County as a place to live, work and visit. This effort arises in part from conversations involving the Lindsborg CVB with the McPherson CVB, McPherson Chamber of Commerce, and GO McPherson, among others. Video subjects are still being fine tuned; however, preliminary Lindsborg topics include family life, good dining out, and young women in business. The Roundtable spends at least a few minutes almost every Monday talking about how we adapt to changes in the ways people get information. Our greatest challenge now is reaching people who make decisions and purchases on their cell phones. In this world websites become even more important for each business or organization — even the smallest, even if there is no brick and mortar location. People are landing on and staying with websites that load quickly and completely on cellphone screens -- very different from laptop screens. This is called being mobile friendly. If your organization or business does not have a website, please consider getting one. Furthermore, it's essential for each business to register with Google so that it can be found on Google maps, another important way people find us and make decisions. We all know that new residents, new students, new customers, and loyal visitors start with Just. One. Stop.
Elizabeth Spencer of Lindsborg begins her new job Thursday at the J.O. Sundstrom Conference Center as an event manager. Elizabeth has been working at the Sundstrom already. Her hiring enables Sundstrom manager Amy Habiger to shift emphasis to sales and marketing. This is an attempt to better balance duties and maintain great customer service as J.O, Sundstrom bookings increase and turnaround times become shorter, especially on weekends. (The Sundstrom has 80 events on the books this year so far. At the same time last year, between 40 and 50 events were on the books for 2016.) Welcome to the new role, Elizabeth! Thanks, as always, to the fabulous Amy!
Everyone, please consider sharing social media posts about Lindsborg’s Midsummer’s Festival in mid June. Shares on personal FB pages are effective — sometimes more effective than any advertised or boosted post. Your endorsement, your word, is best.
Fundraising for Lindsborg’s Independence Day fireworks show is now under way. If you are so moved, please drop cash or checks to David Hay at First Bank Kansas and member of Kiwanis Club of Lindsborg. (Checks should be made to Kiwanis, please.) As in years past, Molly Johnson of The Good Merchant and a gaggle of her talented friends are planning Lindsborg's Old-Fashioned Fourth of July evening of entertainment in Swensson Park — community band music, chances for children to decorate their bikes, trikes, and themselves for a patriotic parade, and special performances on the bandshell stage. At dusk, everyone can shift their eyes to the skies over Bethany College at dusk for the fireworks show selected and coordinated with the help of Robert Ahlstedt of Ahlstedt Fireworks. We thank everyone who helps with Lindsborg’s July 4th. It couldn't happen without *everyone's* good will. top.
Bethany Collge’s board of directors approved a new five-year strategic plan at its meeting last weekend. Parts of this plan connect with Lindsborg’s visitor experience, the visual and performing arts, and possibilities for shared efforts in other areas. Many at this morning’s Ad Hoc gathering expressed interest in other strategic plans and how those might connect with the Bethany plan. Wouldn’t it be a step forward to have all this material seen in a wider audience and discussed?
Speaking of Bethany College and collaboration, here’s an idea that was popped into the circle this morning: What if Lindsborg churches were to hold joint Sunday services in association with Bethany baccalaureate services in Presser Hall at 10:30 a.m.? Area church choirs could join voices. Area residents would be able to enjoy seeing students and the pageantry. We as a community could more effectively thank parents who supported their children while at Bethany College, as well as Bethany's best-ever faculty, coaches and staff for their meaningful work.