Leawood Chamber of Commerce Member Memo — May 20, 2011

Upcoming events and news from around the Leawood area.

Leawood Chamber Events

A Taste of Leawood

Jun. 11, 2011, 7:00 at NEW LOCATION, Leawood City Park, 10601 Lee Blvd., Leawood, 66206
Cost: Ticket Price $65 plus tax in advance, $70 plus tax at the door (if available). MUST BE 21 TO ATTEND!

Savor the Summer at the 2011 A Taste of Leawood Event!

Tempt your palate with delectable food and beverage samplings from the area's top establishments at one location!

Participating Restaurants:
77 South
Amore Chocolate Pizza Company
Avenues Bistro
blanc burgers + bottles
Bonefish Grill
Bravo! Cucina Italiana
Café’ Roux
California Pizza Kitchen
Foo’s Fabulous Frozen Custard
Harry and David
Hereford House
Hy-Vee - Leawood
ingredient Restaurant
La Bodega
NoRTH
On The Border
One Bite Japanese Grill
O’Neill’s Restaurant & Bar
Sullivan’s Steakhouse
The Roasterie Café
Trezo Vino Wine Bistro
Yia Yia’s Euro Bistro

Back by popular demand, the band Souled Out will be performing at this year's event.

Extend the fun all summer long by taking home your souvenir wine glass and gift bag full of treats, including valuable vouchers with savings of over $150! Don't miss out on this unique opportunity to make new connections and friends within the Leawood community all while enjoying Leawood's finest! Make sure you invite your friends, neighbors, business associates, and colleagues!

The ticket price includes:
Enjoying extraordinary cuisine all evening long
5 drink tickets
The Souled Out Band
Complimentary soda and water
Souvenir gift bag
Souvenir wine glass

Attendees MUST BE 21 to ATTEND. This is a rain or shine event and tickets are non-refundable.

Tickets will be mailed for all orders placed online or by phone on or before May 29 unless we are otherwise instructed.

Tickets purchased May 30th - June 10th can be picked up at WILL CALL the evening of Saturday, June 11th. If you would like these tickets before the event, you may pick them up at the Chamber office, located at 13451 Briar, Suite 201, Leawood, KS 66209, before 5:00 p.m., Friday, June 10th. After 5:00 p.m. Friday, June 10th, tickets will no longer be available online.

Tickets (if available) will also be available the night of the event at WILL CALL.

By purchasing tickets online, you agree to the chamber's refund policy as noted at www.leawoodchamber.org/refund_policy.cfm.

PLATINUM SPONSORS
Bank Midwest
Country Club Bank
CrossFirst Bank
Discover Vision Centers
Hoefer Wysocki Architects
Menorah Medical Center
St. Joseph Medical Center
Shawnee Mission Medical Center
Sullivan's Steakhouse
Town Center Plaza

WINE GLASS SPONSOR
Town & Country Disposal

PRESENTING MUSIC SPONSOR
Still Available

SOUVENIR GIFT BAG SPONSOR
Shawnee Mission Medical Center

— Register Online

KU Edwards Campus Professional Edge Series

Jun. 1, 2011, 8:00 at KU Edwards Campus, Regnier Hall Auditorium, 12610 Quivira Rd., Overland Park, 66213
Cost: FREE and open to the public. Please RSVP online or by calling (913) 897-8413.

Speaker: Dr. Sydney Spears, licensed clinical social worker and MSW Program Coordinator and Professional & Community Education Coordinator, School of Social Welfare

Today's workplace tends to generate a great deal of stress due to reduced staffing, increased workloads, worries about job security, and fast-paced work environments. Dr. Spears will share how you can learn to develop the practical skills necessary to effectively reduce and manage work-related stress that results in greater productivity.

*Pastries and coffee provided at 7:30 a.m.

Please visit the Web site to register online or contact Ed Foley at (913) 897-8413.

Presenting Sponsor: Burns & McDonnell

Quarterly Member Briefing

Jun. 17, 2011, 8:30 at Country Club Bank - South Leawood, 2nd floor conference room, 13451 Briar, Leawood, 66209 — Register Online
Cost: Free for Chamber members

Members use the link below to register:

If you are a new representative for an existing Chamber Member or are a representative for a brand new Member, we welcome you to join us for our informative Member Briefing.

This is your chance to meet the staff, representatives from the Board, representatives from the Ambassador Committee and fellow Chamber members. Learn the history of the Chamber and ways to maximize the value of your membership. Enjoy continental breakfast, coffee and conversation!

Please bring your business cards and be prepared to introduce yourself!

Members use the link below to register today!

If you have trouble registering for this event, please email us at Event Registration Assistance.

After Hours Networking

Jun. 22, 2011, 5:00 at The Design Connection, 14117 Fontana, Leawood, 66224 — Register Online
Cost: There is no cost to attend this event.

Members & Non Members use the link below to register:

Leawood Chamber members, their guests, and 'future' Chamber members are invited to join us at our After Hours event.

Use the link below to register today!

If you have trouble registering for this event, please email us at Event Registration Assistance.

Registration deadline is Monday, June 20th, by 5:00 pm, so make sure you RSVP today!

Leawood Community Events

Dedication of Oxford Township Historic Sign

May. 21, 2011, 10:00am at Ironwoods Park, 14701 Mission Rd., Leawood, 66224
Contact: April Bishop – aprilb@leawood.org 913-339-6700 x157
Cost: FREE

The Leawood Historic Commission, the Oxford Township Board and Leawood Parks and Recreation Department have worked together in presenting the history of the Oxford Township. A three paneled sign explaining the history of this eastern portion of Johnson County will be dedicated on Saturday, May 21st at 10:00 am.

The southern area of the City of Leawood lies within a portion of Johnson County once called Oxford Township. Originally Oxford Township, the largest in Johnson County, contained more than 74 square miles, bordered on the north by 95th Street, on the west by Lackman/Black Bob Road, on the south by 167th Street, and on the east by State Line.

The dedication celebration will include presentations, first person interpreters, music, and refreshments followed by activities at the Historic Oxford Schoolhouse. Presenters will include; Mayor Peggy J. Dunn, Roxanne Morse of the Oxford Township Board, local historian and author, Norm Ledgin, April Bishop of the Historic Oxford Schoolhouse, Mary Conrad of the Kansas City Area Historic Trails Association, Anita Tebbe and more.

Learn about the history of the area, the early inhabitants and the trails and settlemen ... (go to www.leawoodchamber.org for more information)

Spring Fling

May. 21, 2011, 11:00am at Villa Ventura Senior Living Community, 12100 Wornall Road, South Kansas City, 64145
Contact: Marcia Hines – vvcrconsultant@seniorstar.com 816-941-0525
Cost: Free to community.

Come enjoy grilled hot dogs and hamburgers on the lawn by the fountain at Villa Ventura while enjoying fun, food and entertainment. Stop by for a bite to eat while you're out running Sat. errands.

ART ATTACK SATURDAYS - LIVE ARTIST DEMONSTRATION

May. 21, 2011, 12:00pm at LEAWOOD FINE ART, 11843 Roe, Leawood, 66211
Contact: Mia Harris – info@leawoodfineart.com 913-338-4999
Cost: FREE - Children are welcom - Refreshments will be served Weblink: http://www.leawoodfineart.com

Saturdays from May 21st through June 11th we are having live artist demonstrations in the gallery from 12:00 to 3:00. The May 21st artist is award-winning Larry DeGraff, whose strong compositions capture the sense of light and atmosphere unique to each landscape he paints.

Children are welcome, and refreshments will be served.

Memorial Day Sale at Harry & David

May. 26, 2011, 10:00am at Harry & David @ Town Center Plaza, 5244 W 119th St., Leawood, 66209
Contact: Harry & David Store – leawood-kss@harryanddavid.com 913-498-0277
Cost: FREE

This Memorial Day weekend, enjoy up to 75% off a variety of great Harry and David treats! Specials include: Gift Packs, Chocolates, Candies and more!

Farmers Market

May. 28, 2011, 8:00am at Blue Valley Recreation Complex, 9701 W. 137th St., Overland Park, 66221
Cost: Free Weblink: http://www.bluevalleyrec.org/page/market.php

Serving southern Johnson County: high-quality, honest vendors with local products from within a 125-mile radius of Overland Park. Come for fruits, veggies, meat, plants and more! Rain or shine, the market will open every Saturday through October 1.

News & Announcements

Shawnee Mission Medical Center to Host Goundbreaking on New Birth Center

Shawnee Mission Medical Center (SMMC) has long been recognized as the area leader in maternity care. SMMC delivers more babies annually than any other hospital in Kansas City – nearly 4,000 each year – and welcomed its 100,000th baby on November 23, 2010.

SMMC will break ground on a $42 million maternity expansion on Tuesday, May 24, 3 p.m., in the Human Resources parking lot on the east side of the hospital. The new Birth Center is designed to meet the demand of the growing numbers of mothers who turn to SMMC for a safe, reassuring environment to deliver their babies.

“The Shawnee Mission Birth Center expansion will give our physicians and nurses the space they need to match the exceptional care already being provided for mothers and their newborns,” said Denise Martinek, SMMC Administrative Director of Women’s and Children’s Services.

The Shawnee Mission Birth Center, set to open in early 2013, will be three times larger than its current unit and include 19 labor/delivery/recovery rooms and 36 private postpartum rooms – accommodating up to 5,000 births annually. The 24-bed Level III Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) will be among the first in the area to offer private, single-family rooms for mothers and their babies, allowing space to safely care for 28-30 babies at a time.

“The Birth Center will provide the support families need through all stages of the birthing process,” said Martinek ... (go to www.leawoodchamber.org for more information)

Burns & McDonnell Adding More Jobs and More Space

According to a recent article, Leawood Chamber member, Burns & McDonnell "plans to spend $20 million to renovate and expand its south Kansas City world headquarters."

Burns & Mac currently employs nearly 2,000 local residents and plans to "add 150 area jobs - 300 companywide - by the end of the year."

The Leawood Chamber wants to congratulate Burns & McDonnell on their continued growth and continued success.

Source: Kansas City Business Journal

KCP&L Increases Green Initiatives

According to a recent article, Leawood Chamber member, Kansas City Power & Light recently "signed a power purchase agreement for about 131 megawatts from the CPV Renewable Energy Co. LLC wind farm in Cimarron, Kansas, on which construction is expected to begin in the fall."

Source: Kansas City Business Journal

SKC Communications Experiences Great Success with Video Technology

Leawood Chamber member, SKC Communications was recently featured in an article that describes how the company "embraces a future of higher customer expectations."

 What do they do exactly? SKC provides unified communications solutions, custom audio visual (AV) design, telecommunications and video conferencing solutions nationwide.

This Shawnee based company is providing its clients significant savings on travel costs, by allowing meetings to take place by video chat.

According to the article, "The travel cost savings are so obvious that Wireco WorldGroup hasn't tried to pencil them out, said Don Bell, vice president of information technology." 'We feel like we're saving trips to Chicago and Germany.' Bell said. 'Saving one or two trips a year to China makes the investment worth it.'"

For more information about SKC Communications and the products the company offers, please visit their website at http://www.skccom.com/.

Source: Kansas City Business Journal

Mariner Holdings is Exceeding Goals and Experiencing Success

Leawood Chamber member, Mariner Holdings, was recently featured in an article as a company who "finds success in the spaces between businesses." According to the article the company brings to mind the maxim: “The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”

The parent company for an award-winning wealth management organization and more than a dozen independent investment firms has grown from eight employees in 2006 to nearly 300 today. “Our success is all about our people,” said Marty Bicknell, CEO. 'We've been extremely lucky being able to recruit just about anyone we want and to bring them to the organization. From that aspect, success brings success.'"

The Leawood Chamber wants to congratulate Mariner Holdings on their continued success and thank them for the membership. This company is an industry leader and a great corporate citizen.

Source: Kansas City Business Journal

KCP&L to Partner with Google

On Tuesday, May 17th, Leawood Chamber member, Kansas City Power & Light announced that they had reached an agreement with Google to bring Google’s ultra high-speed fiber optic Internet service to Kansas City residents and businesses.

KCP&L is proud to be the first investor-owned utility in the world to partner with Google on its Google Fiber initiative. As part of the agreement, the utility company will provide Google access to its poles and electrical infrastructure. This agreement will be at no cost to KCP&L or their customers, and the fees Google pays to KCP&L for this initiative will be used to reduce their cost of service to customers.

In addition, while KCP&L is extremely excited to work with Google on this important project for the community, the company remains fully committed to ensuring its customer’s privacy and providing them with safe, reliable electricity.

As you know, KCP&L has a history of innovative “firsts” in the industry, including their landmark carbon offset agreement with the Sierra Club, their urban smart grid demonstration project around the Green Impact Zone and the introduction of all-electric vehicles to its fleet.

KCP&L is excited to work together with Google to deploy this state-of-the-art, fiber optic technology to Kansas City, Mo.

Additional information about the project and KCP&L’s ... (go to www.leawoodchamber.org for more information)

Kansas Legislative Update 05-14-2011

Final Legislative Report
to the Leawood Chamber of Commerce
2011 Kansas Legislature Session
May 14, 2011
from Bob Vancrum, Ad Astra Group, LLC
Kansas Consultant

The 2011 Kansas legislative session adjourned in the daylight on Friday, May 13.  It was a rough session. I’m sure most everyone will find the results unsatisfactory in one way or the other.  Budget cuts were mandatory this year and in certain ways overdue given the depth and length of this recession and the tenuous nature of the fiscal condition of the state. It is complicated further by the fact the state had received and used substantial stimulus dollars to avoid making much deeper cuts the last two years. The wisdom of that decision now is easy to second guess since clearly most if not all of the nearly $300 million in increased general fund spending in the budget was needed to replace federal stimulus money (the TOTAL state budget fell nearly a billion dollars).

Senate and House negotiators reached agreement late on the 11th on a final Omnibus or “MEGA” budget for 2011 and 2012. There were also appropriations tentatively made thru 2016, all subject to both legislative and Governor’s action still to come.  The House Republican leadership had demanded and the conferees delivered a $50 million 2012 estimated ending balance, not counting the $21 million by which April receipts exceeded estimates. The Gover ... (go to www.leawoodchamber.org for more information)

Member Profile

Integrity Home Care

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Leawood Chamber of Commerce 13451 Briar, Suite 201, Leawood, KS 66209 Web: www.leawoodchamber.org Email: chamber@leawoodchamber.org Voice: 913-498-1514   Fax: 913-491-0134

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