Leawood Chamber of Commerce Member Memo — October 12, 2007

Upcoming events and news from around the Leawood area.

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Leawood Chamber Events

The Spirit of Entrepreneurship 2007 Annual Meeting

Dec. 4, 2007, 11:30am at Overland Park Convention Center, 6000 College Blvd., Overland Park, 66211
Cost: $45 for members, $55 for non-members.

Featuring keynote speaker Dave Kiersznowski, CEO of DEMDACO, Inc. DEMDACO (www.demdaco.com) has quietly become one of the area's fastest growing, entrepreneurial companies, and is ranked as one of the leaders in high quality home accessories.

Now headquartered in Leawood, DEMDACO was founded in 1997. DEMDACO's mission is "to create beautiful gifts and décor that lift the spirit and enhance the home". Perhaps their best-known product line is the "Willow Tree" hand-cared sculptures.

DEMDACO was recognized in 2005 as one of Kansas City's "Best places to Work". Kiersznowski states "The company aims to foster an environment where employees know the concepts of success and integrity aren't mutually exclusive." DEMDACO has been very successful in recruiting and retaining talented artists that help the company grow and expand their product line. DEMDACO provides an employee-friendly environment that supports creativity. Annette Glary, HR director, was recently quoted stating "He (Dave) recognizes that people have lives outside of work. He doesn't just say it. He lives it and delivers it."

You won't want to miss the inspiring story of this innovative Leawood based employer.

Open to the public, this event provides a way for the Chamber to connect area business and community leaders.

Event Host Sponsors:

Commerce Bank - M & I Bank
Shawnee Mission Medical Center -Town & Country Bank

*sponsorship opportunities available

— Register Online

Math Monkey Ribbon Cutting

Oct. 12, 2007, 10:00am at Math Monkey, 15061 Nall Ave., Leawood, 66223

Come join us as we welcome Math Monkey to the Leawood Chamber and help them celebrate the Grand Opening of their location in Leawood!

Math Monkey is an after-school enrichment program designed to boost children's logic, reasoning, confidence and mental agility through game-based curriculum.

After Hours Networking

Oct. 17, 2007, 5:00pm at Bank of Kansas City Mortgage Group, 15230 W. 87th St. Pkwy, Lenexa, 66219
Contact: Chamber Office – chamber@leawoodchamber.org 913-498-1514 — Register Online
Cost: There is no additional cost for Leawood Chamber Members to attend this event. There may be a nominal charge for guests to attend.

Enjoy networking with Leawood Chamber members and 'future' members in a casual, business-card-friendly, social environment.

Our hosts, Bank of Kansas City Mortgage Group, will provide great door prizes, food & beverages, and of course attendees will participate in the area's best networking. You'll want to be sure to attend!

The registration deadline for this event is Monday, October 15th by 5:00 pm, so make sure you register today!

Leawood Community Events

Autumn Art Crawl

Oct. 12, 2007 at Leawood Fine Art, 11843 Roe Ave, Leawood, 66211
Contact: Karen Albert – kalbert1@kc.rr.com 913-338-4999
Cost: Free to the Public Weblink: http://www.leawoodfineart.com

Friday evening, October 12th from 5-9 pm, meet local jewelry designer Diana Abitz and enjoy music, refreshments, and new works by European artists.

If you can't attend on Friday, stop by Leawood Fine are on Saturday October 13th from 10 am - 5 pm for refreshments and your chance to meet Diana and view the new works by European artists!

Pieces by Diana Abitz

*Back in the Swing Participating Retailer 
*Sponsored in part by Kansas City Home & Garden

FAMILY FUN NIGHT

Oct. 12, 2007, 5:30pm at CERAMICS & COFFEE HOUSE @ Paint Glaze & Fire, 127 & Metcalf, Overland Park, 66213
Contact: Debbie Wright – paintglazefire@aol.com 913-661-2529
Cost: Family Studio Fee (up to 4 people), Special pricing for King Pizza & 4 Sodas, PLUS DISCOUNT OFF ceramic pieces you paint that night Weblink: http://www.paintglazeandfire.com/s/static/index.htm

Come and enjoy a night to remember filled with fun, laughter, singing, painting and pizza! RESERVATIONS APPRECIATED!! Please call 913.661.2529(CLAY)

Free Live music this Friday!

Oct. 12, 2007, 7:30pm at ARTichokes, 10557 Mission Road, Leawood, 66206
Cost: FREE! Weblink: http://www.artichokeskc.com

Come and enjoy the singer/songwriter duo Steve & Charisse Kahler!

Step Out to Fight Diabetes Walk

Oct. 13, 2007, 7:30am at Corporate Woods Office Complex, Overland Park,
Contact: Andrea Hughey – ahughey@diabetes.org 913-383-8210 x6842
Weblink: http://stepout.diabetes.org/site/TR?pg=entry&fr_id=4683

Is there a better way to spend a beautiful fall morning than by walking a few miles on the trails at the Corporate Woods Office Complex in Overland Park, Kansas, with your family, friends, neighbors and co-workers? 

Don’t forget to bring your pooch (dogs on a leash are very welcome to attend). Most importantly, you’ll be helping to raise money for a cure for diabetes! Grab your walking shoes and come out for a fun-filled morning of exercise, music, food and festivities.  Registration starts at 7:30 am and the walk starts at 8:45 am.

Before strolling along the three mile trail, visit the Health and Wellness Festival and get the latest and greatest information on living a healthy lifestyle and ask the expert your diabetes questions in the “Ask the Experts” tent. Enjoy healthy snacks before and during the walk and your pooch can enjoy a treat at the “doggie rest stops” during the Walk (and the “pooper picker upper” bags will even be furnished for you). Cross the finish line and enjoy a healthy and delicious breakfast, music, and games!

Form a team of five or more walkers or register as an individual wa ... (go to www.leawoodchamber.org for more information)

News & Announcements

Who's Exempt From Overtime?

 Misclassifying a worker can cost employers years of unpaid overtime, on top of extra working hours for meals and breaks -- and it's a very easy mistake.

One of the simplest mistakes employers can make is in how their employees get paid. Many employers are easily confused about the proper classifications of salaried and hourly-wage workers, and whether or not they're entitled to overtime pay. You might believe all your employment practices are solidly in place when suddenly you're facing a lawsuit from a recently fired salaried employee for failure to pay overtime. But salaried workers aren't entitled to overtime, right? Well, that depends.

Under the Fair Labor Standards Act, only certain employees are exempt from being paid overtime. Simply paying an employee a salary is not enough to make the employee exempt from overtime. Above all, an exempt employee must be paid on a regular and predictable basis in an amount of at least $455 per week. Yet meeting this test alone is still not enough to render the employee exempt. In order to properly classify the employee as exempt, there are two tests that need to be met -- the salary basis test and the duties test.

Under the ... (go to www.leawoodchamber.org for more information)

B2B Cookie Winner

Our B2B cookie winner for September is Lukas Sundahl with His & Her Fitness!  By attending the Leawood Chamber's September 6th Morning Mingling event and submitting his business card, Lukas was automatically entered into a drawing for a dozen Blue Chip Cookies, compliments of Blue Chip Cookies in Town Center Plaza.

Pictured from left to right:  Amy Jones, Christina Larson, & Lukas Sundahl with His & Her Fitness, Sheril Herman, American Companion Care, and Jim Cogswell, Leawood Police Department.

Children’s Mercy transport program wins ‘triple crown’

Culminating a three-year ride at the top of its profession, Children’s Mercy Critical Care Transport has been named “Transport Program of the Year” by the Association of Air Medical Services.

The 2007 award as top overall program comes on the heels of being named best fixed wing program in 2006 and best ground transport program in 2005. The “triple crown” is a first; no other program has ever won all three awards, let alone consecutively. Children’s Mercy is one of just two neonatal and pediatric specialty transport teams to receive the award.

The Program of the Year Award recognizes an emergency medical program that has demonstrated a superior level of patient care, management, leadership, customer service, safety consciousness, marketing ingenuity, community service and the commitment to the medicals transport community as a whole.

Children’s Mercy Critical Care Transport is one of the busiest programs in the country. Each month, the specialized teams of Children’s Mercy employees make 300 to 340 transport in Children’s Mercy ambulances, helicopters or its airplane. In fiscal year 2007 (which ended June 30), the neo ... (go to www.leawoodchamber.org for more information)

Leawood Chamber Welcomes Its Newest Members

Send Out Cards
12233 Fairway Road
Leawood, KS  66209
Ph: (913) 226-5827
janetgalvin@sbcglobal.net   www.sendoutcards.com/25544
Business Category: Advertising / Cards
Changing lives, one card at a time.

Senior Helpers 1
8324 Harvard Terrace
Raytown, MO  64138
Ph: (816) 210-3213 Fax: (816) 358-3259
seniorhelpers1@yahoo.com   http://www.seniorhelpers1.com/
Business Category: Home Health Services
Compassionate caring health care in the home or hospital.

Waterway Gas and Wash
4200 W. 119th St.
Leawood, KS  66209
Ph: (913) 339-9964 Fax: (913) 339-6287
spope@waterway.com   http://www.waterway.com/
Business Category: Car ... (go to www.leawoodchamber.org for more information)

Town Plaza Family Pracitce Welcomes New Physician

In September, Town Plaza Family Practice welcomed a new physician, Candice Smith-Johnson M.D. She is currently accepting new patients.

Dr. Smith-Johnson is a Family Practice physician, who also practices obstetrics.  She received her Bachlor's Degree at Luther College Decorah in Iowa and received her medical degree from the University of Iowa.  She completed her residency at Lacrosse-Mayo Family Medicine Residency in LaCrosse, Wisconsin.

Dr. Smith-Johnson is a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians and is also affiliated with Menorah Medical Center.

Member Profile

Johnson County Concierge, LLC

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Leawood Chamber of Commerce 11300 Tomahawk Creek Parkway #240, Leawood, KS 66211 Web: www.leawoodchamber.org Email: chamber@leawoodchamber.org Voice: 913-498-1514   Fax: 913-491-0134

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