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Kansas Communities Conference Marks our Progress
At this weekend’s Kansas Communities Conference, nine individuals representing the Greeley County community building effort heard from others around the state engaged in similar projects to bolster their communities. We heard stories from Chanute to Oberlin, and Sherman County to Fort Scott. We learned of their struggles and their successes and shared what has happened in Greeley County as a result of the grassroots effort to build community. And people were listening. They paid attention as Angela Woelk relayed the success of the summer recreation program and how it led to the development of a permanent board to manage recreation. They gave Dr. Randy Fahrenholtz, Janice Fahrenholtz, and Jan Epp the floor as they talked about the work of the Healthcare team, the Retirement Community Action Team and the Resource Development team. They were interested in the progress of the Main Street Revitalization team and added suggestions for the group working on the Community Technology/Office Center. People understood when Dan Epp urged the need for a new story of rural survival. And they sat spellbound as Ethan Schlegel and Bret Mangan, high school juniors, spoke of their work with the Marketing Team and the Recreation Action team. More than anything else, other communities noticed these two young men and the active, articulate role they played in this year’s conference. Some days, it is hard for us to keep score. For every step the community takes forward, there is often a step or two back. We are here, day in and day out and can see the ups and downs, the highs and lows. There are days when it is difficult to know if we’re gaining. But, if you asked the people we talked to this weekend, they would tell you that we’re making strides, that we’re battling down the barriers, and overcoming the obstacles that threaten to drag us down. We’re addressing the issues that are critical to our future, and step by step, we are making measurable progress. We are moving forward, and we will continue to do so because we are dedicated to building a better tomorrow for Greeley County.
Christy is Director of the Greeley County’s Community Development Corporation |
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