Leawood Chamber of Commerce Member Memo — March 28, 2008

Upcoming events and news from around the Leawood area.

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Leawood Chamber Events

2008 State of the County Address

Apr. 8, 2008, 11:30am at Ritz Charles Overland Park, 9000 West 137th Street, Overland Park, 66221
Cost: $30/ person or $300 for a table of 8

The Johnson County Public Policy Council and the Chairman of the Board of Johnson County Commissioners, Annabeth Surbaugh, cordially invite you to attend the 2008 State of the County Address and Luncheon.

The cost is $30 / person, or $300 for a table of 8. Advanced reservations and payment are required. The reservation deadline for this event is by 5pm on Monday, March 31st. Refunds will not be made on cancellations received after registration deadline.

Check-in on April 8th will begin at 11:30 am, followed by lunch at noon and Chairman Surbaugh's Address at 12:30 pm.

— Register Online

11th Annual 'A Taste of Leawood' Event

Jun. 21, 2008, 7:00pm at Leawood City Hall Courtyard, 4800 Town Center Drive, Leawood, 66211
Contact: Chamber Staff – chamber@leawoodchamber.org 913-498-1514
Cost: $65 in advance, $70 at the door(if available).

Sponsorships and reserved tables are still available for the Leawood Chamber's largest and most prestigious event of the year! Don't exclude your business from this social event of the season.

2008 Taste of Leawood Sponsorships Opportunities

'A Taste of Leawood,' one of the area's premier events, is now entering its eleventh year! Enjoy a casual evening of music, spirits and culinary splendor from the area's finest establishments under the stars in the Leawood City Hall Courtyard.

The Leawood Chamber is pleased to announce that a new band, Souled Out, will be performing at this year?s event. Patrons will enjoy tantalizing cuisine from new area restaurants along with area favorites, all at one location!

Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to make new connections and friends within our community, while enjoying Leawood's finest! Make sure you invite your friends, neighbors, business associates & colleagues as well!

Attendees must be 21 to attend. This is a rain or shine event and tickets are non-refundable.

You may contact the Chamber staff at (913) 498-1514 or send us an e-mail at chamber@leawoodchamber.org, if you would like more information.

Platinum Sponsors:

CBIZ & Mayer Hoffman McCann PC - Commerce Bank, NA
Hoefer Wysocki Architects, LLC - M&I Bank
Shawnee Mission Medical Center
Sun News - Town & Country Bank

Morning Mingling

Apr. 1, 2008, 8:00am at Rosehill Gardens, 311 E. 135th Street, Kansas City, 64145 — Register Online
Cost: There is no cost to attend for Chamber members. Guests $5 at the door or call Chamber for guest pass

Are you looking for ideas on what to plant in your yard this spring? Well this is not a joke! The Leawood Chamber's Morning Mingling event will take place on Tuesday, April 1st, at Rosehill Gardens.

Leawood Chamber members, their guests, and 'future' Chamber members are invited to join us for some great networking and your morning pick me up.

The registration deadline for this event is Friday, March 28th, by 5:00 pm, so use the link below to make your reservation today!

Chamber Education Program

Apr. 2, 2008, 8:00am at KU Edwards Campus, Regnier Hall Room 165, 12600 Quivira Road, Overland Park, 66213 — Register Online
Cost: There is no cost to attend this event; however, reservations are required.

Dr. Gregory Thomas, Chair/Design, School of Fine Arts
All companies within a given industry utilize price, features, and costs to compete. So what sets a product apart? Design can differentiate products in a crowded marketplace. It matters not just in the cars we choose and the clothes we wear?design also affects how we use communication devices and the internet. Design is a factor in everything we do, see and experience daily. Dr. Gregory Thomas will discuss how several well known brands have benefited from a focus on design.

The reservation deadline for this event is Monday, March 31st by 5:00 p.m., so reserve your spot today!

The Bank of Blue Valley is providing coffee & pastries at each event beginning at 7:45 a.m.

Leawood Community Events

FREE PARENTING WORKSHOP

Mar. 31, 2008, 7:00pm at Church of the Ascension, 9510 W. 127th St, Overland Park, 66213
Cost: FREE! Weblink: http://www.marillac.org

Creating effective strategies from the world of neuroscience... Featuring Mark Siegmund, MA, LPC, LCPC Director of Clinical Services at Marillac. 

During adolescence, the brain undergoes great changes. The march into adulthood is fraught with all kinds of peril -- moodiness, risk-taking and poor impulse control.  As the brain grows into the final 10% of its growth, we are handing over car keys and letting youngsters stay out later. Before you hide the keys and barricade the doors, come learn and discuss about how knowledge of brain development can help you create helpful parenting strategies! Key topics will include: *Adolescent Brain Development *Realistic Expectations *Communication *Boundaries.

Mark Siegmund, MA, LPC, LCPC is currently the director of Clinical Services at Marillac Center in Overland Park, KS.  He has been a counselor for 25 years in Missouri, New Hampshire, and Kansas working extensively with children, adolescents and families. Mark has presented locally and nationally on this model and other topics such as Peaceful Parenting and Adolescent Development and Sexuality.  He has worked with foster families and in residen ... (go to www.leawoodchamber.org for more information)

International Investing Seminar

Apr. 1, 2008, 6:00pm at Waddell & Reed, Inc., 6900 College Blvd., Ste. 740, Overland Park, 66211
Contact: Cindy Huynh – chuynh@wradvisors.com 913-491-9202

Nedra E. Mitchell, CFP®, a District Supervisor with Waddell & Reed, Inc., will present an investment seminar discussing the potential investment opportunities that exist abroad.

International investing involves additional risks, including currency fluctuations, political or economic conditions affecting the foreign country, and differences in accounting standards and foreign regulations. These risks are magnified in emerging markets. Diversification cannot ensure a profit or protect against a loss in a declining market. Investors should consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of a fund carefully before investing.

There will be ample time for questions and a light dinner. There is no charge for attending this seminar. Guests are welcome.

Grow Your Bottom Line Workshop

Apr. 1, 2008, 8:30am at Corporate Woods Bldg 29, 9001 West 110th, Overland Park, 66210
Contact: Shawn Kinkade – SKInkade@aspirekc.com 913-660-9400
Cost: $20 (payable at the door) Weblink: http://www.aspirekc.com/workshop.html

Would you like to make more money in your business?  Would you be interested in picking up new ideas on increasing that bottom line? 

You're invited to a workshop on April 1st from 8:30 to 10:30 am  in Corporate Woods - Grow Your Bottom Line: 7 Areas to Focus on to DOUBLE Your Profits by Next Year!

Success is all about growth, but not all growth is the same.  Are you focusing on the right aspects of your business - the ones that will really flow through to the bottom line?

You will learn what those 7 areas are and how you can make incremental, small but meaningful changes across the board to generate a big difference to your bottom line.  You'll learn more than a dozen new ideas and strategies that you can start working with right away.  

Click here to register online: Grow Your Bottom Line Workshop or call Shawn at 913.660. ... (go to www.leawoodchamber.org for more information)

News & Announcements

Economic Development Council Updates Web-based Resource

One of the keys to a successful business recruitment and retention program for any community is making sure that demographic and community information is readily accessible on the web, 24-hours a day.

The Leawood Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Council has recently invested significant resources to provide businesses thinking of relocating to Leawood important information about this outstanding community.  Leawood’s “Community Profile”, along with available business properties and building sites, can be found on the Economic Development page, in the Site Selector and Employer Resources section, on the Leawood Chamber website.

For more information contact Kevin Jeffries, Chamber President & CEO, at kevinj@leawoodchamber.org or 913-498-1514.

Do the Best Companies Join Chambers of Commerce?

The best places to work tend to belong to their local chamber of commerce, according to a recent study by the American Chamber of Commmerce Executives (ACCE).  Of Fortune magazine's "100 Best Companies to Work For" in the United States and Canada this year, 94 are members of their local chamber, including all of the top 24.

"This 'Best Companies to Work For' information is one more indication that the best companies tend to be chamber members," according to ACCE President Mick Fleming. "If a company cares about its employees, there's a good chance it also cares about its community and the chamber is the way that great employers invest in both."

Consumers seem to expect chamber members to be better-than-average companies. A study by the Atlanta-based Schapiro Group last August found that consumers are 63 percent more likely to buy products from companies that they believe are chamber members.

Beckett & Taylor Agency Opens Columbia, Mo. Office

Bukaty Companies, an insurance and benefit consulting firm headquartered in Leawood, Kansas, will be opening an office in Columbia, Missouri.  The office will be operating as Bukaty Companies-Beckett & Taylor Agency, and managed by local partners Matt Beckett and Jake Taylor.

“In the past several years, our client base has grown in the central region of the state. It is an ideal time to establish a local presence in the Columbia area,” said Bukaty Companies President Mike Bukaty. “Matt and Jake have strong ties to the community, and their understanding of the local business climate will be of value to the clients we work with in the area.”

The office will provide a full array of insurance and employee benefit products and services.

Park Place Gallery of Fine Art

Park Place Gallery of Fine Art, formerly The Gallery at Hawthorne Plaza, is celebrating its debut on Saturday, March 29, 2008.  They will be featuring artists throughout the day from 10:00 am until 8:00 pm.

Their new location is in the Park Place development, located at 117th and Nall in Leawood.

Exclusive Mercedes-Benz Golf Tourney Sponsorships Still Available!

The National Kidney Foundation created a sponsorship program for the Mercedes-Benz of Kansas City Championship Golf Tournament, called "Birdies for Charity", exclusively for members of the Leawood Chamber of Commerce.

The tournament will take place at the Leawood South Country Club  May 13-18.  This golf event is part of the Duramed FUTURES Tour, the official developmental tour of the LPGA. The Duramed FUTURES Tour holds tournaments in cities across the United States with 300 women professional golfers from around the world competing for five spots on the LPGA tour for the following season.

The tournament will feature two Pro-Am tournaments, including the NKF Golf Classic which awards the winning team the rare opportunity to compete for a National Championship at the famed Pebble Beach Resort. In addition, there will be a “Meet the Pros” party and auction. The Duramed FUTURES Championship will take place Friday through Sunday.

View the link below for sponsorship details.

Birdies for Charity

For more information, contact Randy Williams at 913-261-1551 or by email at rwilliams@kidneyksmo.org.

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

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