Happy Thanksgiving!

Topeka is a wonderful community.  Tonight, I was given the opportunity to help set up the Ag Hall at the Kansas Expocentre for The Community Thanksgiving Dinner.  This was my first involvement with this organization, and I must say that I think they are doing a marvelous job.  I was able to work with a couple of children from St. Matthews School to get Sugar, Sweet n Low, and Creamer in cups for each table.  After we got those set out, I then had the opportunity to work with some Girl Scouts to decorate the tables.  We placed place mats on the tables, put leafy things on the tables, center pieces, and candles on the tables (can you tell I am not a creative person).  I couldn’t believe all of the work going on.  There was a group of people cutting the pies (there were a ton of pumpkin pies) and boxing up slices for the meal deliveries.  There were groups sorting the donated food, and hanging posters for the sponsors.  It felt so good to be part of this.  Tomorrow, they plan on feeding a lot of people.  Last I heard, they are planning on 3000 people coming for lunch tomorrow and then also have orders for 850 meals.  The dinner is free and open to everyone in the community.  It is because of those running it, the volunteers, and those who make donations that this event is such a success.  I am pleased that I was able to play a small role in success of tomorrow’s dinner.

TransformTopeka wishes everyone a Happy and Safe Thanksgiving!

Reminder – What I love about Topeka Contest – Deadline is fast approaching…

I love that in Topeka, there are some great places to tour history: Kansas Museum of History, Charles Curtis’ house, Brown vs. Board historical site, and many more.  What do you love about Topeka?  We haven’t heard from many of you and I know there is a lot to love about Topeka?

I wanted to remind everyone about our contest taking place between now and December 15th. For every positive post that you make about things you love in Topeka you will be entered in a drawing. On December 16th we will draw three winners and they will each receive a $25 Topeka Chamber Gift Certificate. December 15th will be here before you know it so please post soon.  We have relaxed one of the rules to ease confusion (you can now post on the blog, forum, Facebook, or LinkedIn).  We can’t wait to see what everyone loves about Topeka. Read the rest of this entry »

TransformTopeka on the Jim Cates show

This morning, Alissa, Shay, Ryan and I had the chance to chat about Transform Topeka on the Jim Cates show.  It was a great opportunity to share with a different audience what we are about.  We would like to thank Jim Cates, Tricia Johnston and cjonline.com for the opportunity.  You can listen to the mp3 of the show here.

Read the rest of this entry »

Podcast: Play in new window
| Download

  • denise
  • November 18th, 2008
  • Comments    
  • Getting Involved, Topeka News

Heartland Visioning revises “harsh” language in the Draft Plan

Today, the Heartland Visioning Steering Committee revised the “Call to Action” section of the Heartland Visioning Draft Plan due to remarks made by some elected officials that the language was too harsh and too negative (see CJOnline Article for further details).  I am personally saddened by this move because I feel that it to truly fix a problem; you have to come to terms with the problem itself.  It is like an addict admitting they have an addiction, and only then rehabilitation can begin.  Yes, the tone in that section was harsh, but that is what is needed in a “Call to Action”.  When writing any paper or presentation, you need to make a statement that grabs attention.  With a “Call to Action” you must take it a few steps further: you have to convince people that there is a problem, persuade them that you can provide a solution to the problem, and compel them to take action to help solve the problem.  If you weaken the language, you loose the ability to persuade and compel.

Read the rest of this entry »