February 2015
eBlast for the week of February 23, 2015
This week at the Chamber:

Thursday, February 26

9 a.m. - Fundraising Committee Meeting @ Chamber

9:30 a.m. - Chamber Coffee hosted by Kathy Burt/State Farm Insurance @ State Farm, 167 S Main
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This week in our Community... 

Monday, February 23rd
4-6 p.m. - Hoisington Food Bank Open, 467 W 3rd St.

7:30 p.m. - Hoisington City Council Mtg.

Tuesday, Feburary 24th
5:15-6:15 p.m. - USD 431 Lincoln/Roosevelt site council meeting

Friday, February 27th
USD 431 - No School

5:30-7:30 p.m. - Knights of Columbus Fish Fry

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Dear Chamber Investor,

Please help us welcome the newest member of the Hoisington Chamber family, Barnard Tire & Automotive!  The Barnards are our neighbors here at the Chamber, so we can see that they are off to a busy start across the way.  We wish you much success and welcome to the Chamber!

Have a great week!
 
Kristi Lovett
Hoisington Chamber of Commerce
 
Legislative Coffee Rescheduled
Please take note that the 2015 Hoisington Chamber Legislative Coffee has been rescheduled for Saturday, March 14th at 10 a.m. at the Hoisington Activity Center, 1200 Susank, Hoisington. Senator Mitch Holmes and Representative John Edmonds will be present to discuss current legislative topics and to address any questions. Wilson State Bank will provide a light breakfast for the Coffee.
2015 Retail Promotions Program

The Hoisington Chamber Promotions Committee is excited to once again invite our member businesses to participate in the Retail Promotions Program for 2015!

 

For 2015, the Promotion Committee has selected the following activities to promote the Hoisington Area Businesses. In 2014 we had great participation with our contests and look for the same success in 2015. Last year, the Summer Sizzler contest alone had over 600 entries! And they had to sign up at Promotions Businesses...talk about traffic in your business!

 

2015 Retail Promotions Program

How your business benefits...

 

  • Host a drawing box in your business for the Spring Fling - March 9-30
  • Be an official sponsor (included in all advertising) of the Hoisington Kids Entrepreneur Week - Date TBA
  • Host a drawing box in your business for the Summer Sizzler - June 8-29
  • Host a drawing box in your business for the Turkey Giveaway - November 2-20
  • Participating business for the Shop Hoisington Chimney Hop - November 30 - December 14
  • Be an official sponsor (included in all advertising) of the Annual Christmas Lighting & Santa Visit - November 27
  • Be an official sponsor (included in all advertising) of the Hoisington Christmas Home Decoration Contest - December 18

 

We will once again offer the promotion program for only $60. If you are interested in being a part of the 2015 Retail Promotions Program, please send your check to the Chamber office by March 2nd.

Member News
Barton County Health Needs Assessment
Professional Development Workshops

 
Barton Community College

 
Wilson Communications
Make your infrastructure a priority.
Microsoft support for Windows Server 2003/R2 will end July 14, 2015.

End of support means the date when Microsoft will no longer develop or release any fixes, updates, or patches. In 2013, 37 critical updates were released under Microsoft Support. Imagine what impact zero updates will have on your organization after end of support (EOS). The costs of maintaining your legacy servers can add up quickly, including maintenance costs for aging hardware and added costs for intrusion detection systems. After support ends, your organization will likely fail to meet most industry-wide compliance standards and regulations if you do not take action.

Wilson Communications can help you understand what this means for your business and what you can do about it!  Now is the time! Consult with Wilson Communications IT Specialists to transform your business and take advantage of the latest technologies so that you can continue to receive great new experiences. Our staff has the right tools for a successful transition to lead you through the steps of Discovery - cataloging your software and workloads; Assessment - categorizing and analyzing applications and workloads; Target - Windows Server 2012 R2 or virtualization; and Migrate - make the move.

Wilson Communications, a 'Dell Partner' and a Certified Microsoft Partner, can offer your business the latest in computer hardware and software licensing solutions for consumer or business enterprise systems. Our Certified IT Technicians will determine if your existing programs are compatible with new operating systems and seamlessly transfer your data. We're available for local support after the sale and have been your technology partner since 1903!

Clara Barton Scholarships
The Clara Barton Hospital Foundation is currently seeking applicants for their 2015 healthcare career scholarships. Each year the Foundations desires to present several individuals with scolarships. Scholarship amount varies with the merits of the application and funds available for the endowments. The four scholarships to be awarded are: Jonathan Witt Scholarship, Sadie Stalcup Scholarship, Verda Lane Nursing Scholarship and Dr. Robert Moore scholarship. Allication deadline for all scholarships is April 1, 2015.

Both the Jonathan Witt and Sadie Stalcup scholarships are limited to applicants accepted into, currently enrolled in, or planning to pursue a health care professional curriculum. applicants must be a current resident of a high school graduate in the Clara Barton service area.

The Verda Lane Nursing Scholarship was established at the request of her family to assist students in their academic pursuit to become an RN or LPN. Applicants must be admitted to a nursing program and have a current GPA of 3.0 or better. The scholarship will not fund pre-nursing students.

Established by his family in honor of his dedicated service to the patients of Clara Barton Hospital, the Dr. Robert Moore scholarship assists employees of Clara Barton with continuing their education. Only current employees are eligible and if interested, can call the Foundation office to learn more about this scholarship.

Individuals interested in contributing to a scholarship fund or who wish to receive an application may call 620-653-5012 ir write to Clara Barton Foundation, PO Box 25, Hoisington, KS  67544. All applications are also available under the Foundation link at clarabartonhospital.com.

 

Golden Belt Community Foundation Scholarships

Calling all high school and college students...don't forget to apply for scholarships which are open right now through our website. Scholarships are available to Barton, Pawnee, Stafford and Rush County applicants.

 

To be considered for the scholarships, students must complete the online application and provide information about their academic performance, activities, work experience and financial need. The application site is now live. Completed applications must be submitted online no later than Tuesday, March 31st, 2015.

 

https://goldenbeltcfscholarships.communityforce.com/Funds/Search.aspx  


Local Vet Renovates
You may have seen the lights on at odd hours this past weekend at Hoisington Vet Hospital.  The crew of the Hospital were on call stripping wallpaper, painting and giving the practice a general face lift.
 CLEARANCE SALE---toys 50% off--collars and leashes 30% off--Nexgard and Frontline 10% off--science diet food and treats 10% off--WHILE SUPPLIES LAST!!!!
Hoisington Rec Trip
HRC will be making another trip to Fonner Park in Grand Island, Nebraska for the very popular horse races! Saturday, April 18th. Bus ride is only $30. Registrations can be mailed to you or picked up at the REC offices in the Activity Center!
Barton County Young Professionals
 Networking Mixer

Friday, February 27th @ 5:30-8:30 p.m.

Eldridge Fencing, 80 E. 10th Street in Great Bend

 

It's that time again! Once every quarter, the Barton County Young Professionals group gathers at a sponsoring business for a casual networking event designed to give people the opportunity to sign up as new YP members, volunteer for community projects, and meet new people in a fun, laid back environment.

Eldridge Fencing will host a Young Professionals mixer event on Friday, February 27th from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at their showroom, 80 E. 10th Street in Great Bend. There will be free food and beer while supplies last, so get there on time! At 7 p.m., a drawing for a Traeger grill and accessory pack will be held, and several other small door prizes will be given away.
Must be present to win. Remember, you get one ticket for attending, another ticket for bringing a new member (or BEING a new member), and a third ticket for wearing your professional name tag!

  

Anyone 21 to 40(ish) years of age who lives in the Barton County Area is welcome and encouraged to attend this free event! So bring a friend! No RSVP's required.   

  

If you'd like more information about the YP group, visit the

 

 

Barton County Young Professionals Personal Development Luncheon  
"Home Inspections & Home Maintenance" 
March 10, 2015 
Pizza Hut, 4100 10th Street, Great Bend @ 12p.m.

Members of the Barton County Young Professionals group are invited to participate in a free personal development series designed to help YP's grow personally and professionally.

 

The next luncheon, entitled "Home Inspections and Home Maintenance", will take place Tuesday, March 10th  at the Pizza Hut Buffet, 4101 10th Street, from 12-1 p.m.   

 

The meeting will be co-facilitated by Amy Hofeling with Farmers Bank & Trust and Kim Vink with Keller Real Estate. The luncheon is free to attend, but each participant must pay for their own meal before leaving. Presentation will begin at 12:15 p.m. and conclude at 12:45 p.m. with door prize drawings. RSVP's appreciated, but not required. 

  

 

 .The growing networking organization is operated under the Great Bend Chamber of Commerce, and strives to accomplish three goals: 1) facilitate networking, 2) give back to the community, and 3) develop young leaders. To join BCYP, email  [email protected].

Kansas at Your Service

The State of Kansas is pleased to announce the development  of a new, FREE online customer service training class called "Kansas At Your Service". The need for customer service training has been discussed for several years by retail, lodging, and restaurant establishments.  They needed and wanted something that worked and we believe we have developed such a tool.   

 

Kansas' tourism industry is one of state's top employers and is a leading contributor to Kansas' great way of life. It encompasses careers in many fields including hotels, restaurants, museums, performing arts centers, convention centers, retail stores, campgrounds, state parks, national parks, visitor attractions, wineries, tour operators and many, many more professions. The continued success of the state's tourism industry directly depends on first class service that will make our visitors' Kansas experience memorable. That's where Kansas At Your Service comes in. The Kansas At Your Service system of customer service will provide the type of service that will keep visitors coming back to Kansas visit after visit.

 

The Kansas At Your Service program is a statewide customer service training certification program created to support the development of the tourism & hospitality industry through enhanced guest experiences. It provides statewide standardized customer service training, emphasizes the importance of quality customer service in the Tourism & Hospitality Industry, and equips employees statewide with tools and resources to better serve our visitors.

 

Loren Unruh, hotel and restaurant owner in Great Bend,KS and Chairman of the Great Bend CVB Board of Directors is a firm supporter of the program. He states that, "The development of this online customer service and regional host training is certainly one of the greatest accomplishments by the Kansas tourism industry.  It will be a valuable resource for all Kansas businesses and educational facilities."

 

The web-based certification training, available in both English and Spanish, is offered at no charge and after completing the Kansas At Your Service online program a personalized certificate, which is recognized by employers throughout the state as a symbol of expertise in service and knowledge of the key success factors in Kansas' visitor industry, can be printed off.  

 

Once the Kansas At Your Service hospitality course is completed, then the user will be able to move onto the regional destination courses.  The Manhattan Convention and Visitors Bureau and Wetlands & Wildlife National Scenic Byway are the two destinations that have been instrumental in getting this program off the ground and running and each have the courses available. Once their regional courses are taken, a completion certificate will be available as well.

Kansas Department of Wildlife, Parks & Tourism collaborated with Peter Starks of the Red Global Group, LLC to create motivating yet common sense training modules. The behavioral vignettes deal with those everyday "transactions" which either make or break an otherwise memorable experience. The modules bring it right home, demonstrating that service, attitude, attention and sincerity make the difference.

 

To take the Kansas At Your Service program or for more information visit: www.KansasAtYourService.com.   

 

Now Hiring

ASSISTANT MANAGER/ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES SUPERVISOR/ MAINTENANCE SPECIALIST

Clara Barton Hospital is looking for a solid performer to fill this position.  5 years work experience in maintenance, electrical, or mechanical field with strong knowledge of heating and air systems.  A technical degree or certification and supervisory experience are preferred.  Full-time position with call responsibilities.  Apply in person or visit www.clarabartonhospital.org for application instructions and to see these and other great Career Opportunities at Clara Barton Hospital.  Equal opportunity employer.

 

 

COMBINATION SERVICE TECHNICIAN
Wilson Telephone Company has an immediate opening for a Combination Technician. This position is located in Wilson, Ks. The primary duties of this position include: installing and maintaining wireline, broadband services, and video services; performing preventative network maintenance; and providing technical network assistance on a copper/FTTH network. Other responsibilities may include: locating buried plant, providing local software/IT support and responding to various customer service needs. Telecommunications network installation and repair skills, effective communication and interpersonal skills, and computer skills are required along with the ability to manage multiple tasks in a team-oriented environment.
Please send a cover letter and resume to: Wilson Telephone Company Inc, Attn Human Resources, PO Box 190, Wilson KS 67490-0190; drop it by the office at 2504 Avenue D in Wilson; or email to [email protected]. Wilson Telephone Company Inc offers competitive compensation, excellent benefits and is an equal opportunity employer.

 

IT ADMINISTRATOR

Wilson Communications has an immediate opening for an IT Administrator. This position is located in Wilson KS. The primary duties of this position include: System administration engineering, provisioning, maintenance and support; Network administration, provisioning and support of interrelated networks for voice, video and data service offerings; and maintaining server based networks. Other responsibilities may include: hardware/software upgrades or replacements, network wiring, and responding to various company and customer needs.

 

Technical repair skills; efficient knowledge of routers, switches and firewalls; and effective communication and interpersonal skills are required along with the ability to manage multiple tasks in a team-oriented environment.

 

Please send a cover letter and resume to: Wilson Telephone Company Inc, Attn Human Resources, PO Box 190, Wilson KS 67490-0190; drop it by the office at 2504 Avenue D in Wilson; or email to [email protected]. Wilson Telephone Company Inc offers competitive compensation, excellent benefits and is an equal opportunity employer.

 

ASSOCIATE FACULTY - Medical Support Programs - Healthcare Documentation & Transcription (Online)

Barton Community College is seeking applications for Associate Faculty for the Healthcare Documentation & Transcription Specialist Certificate, specifically teaching Fundamentals of Transcription I and Healthcare Documentation & Transcription II, Healthcare Professional Development and Medical Style & Grammar. Teaching assignments are for online coursework; successful applicants will be required to participate in an E-certification training program. Three to five years of experience as a Medical Transcriptionist is required. An industry certification in Medical Transcription is preferred. Review of completed applications begins immediately.

To apply go to: jobs.bartonccc.edu Persons with a hearing or speech impairment please use the Kansas Relay Service at 1-800-766-3777 or dial 711. Position is open until filled. EEO/AA.


ASSISTANT CARE PROVIDER

Barton Community College seeks an Assistant Care Provider. This part-time, replacement position is responsible for assisting the Child Development Center Lead Care Providers in all aspects of child care, educational programming, general center upkeep and housekeeping. Required qualifications: a high school education or GED and up to six months of similar or related experience. Preferred qualifications: preference will be given to applicants with an earned Associate's degree in Early Childhood Education or to applicants willing to begin an education plan resulting in an Associate's degree. Review of completed applications begins immediately.

To apply go to: jobs.bartonccc.edu Persons with hearing or speech impairment please use the Kansas Relay Service at 1-800-766-3777 or dial 711. Position is open until filled. EEO/AA.

 

RODEWAY INN & SUITES
Taking applications for someone to work 2 nights a week, open up on weekends twice a month.  Must be 21, need experience in bartending and good with the public.  May have more hours if needed.  Please apply at the Rodeway Inn and Suites Hotel, located at 57 West Ks Hwy 4 & 281, Hoisington, Kansas.  Must apply during hours 7a.m. - 2:00 p.m.

SUBWAY 
Now taking applications for a dynamic individuals to join our team as a part-time Sandwich Artists in Hoisington. Interested applicants can visit the Hoisington Subway and pick up an application.

JENSEN ASSOCIATES, INC. is looking for a Insurance Sales Professional for our Hoisington branch office. Call 620-564-2020 with inquiries. Send resumes to PO Box 118, Ellinwood, KS 67544.

 

Call for Content eBlasts and Newsletters

 

If you have exciting news that you would like to share in our monthly newsletter or weekly eBlasts with nearly 200 individuals in our business community, please send it to the Chamber office at [email protected] three business days prior to the 1st of the month.

 

If you would prefer to get a printed copy of the monthly newsletter, please let the office know.

Hoisington Chamber of Commerce
123 N Main St
Hoisington, Kansas 67544
620-653-4311
[email protected]
Open Monday - Friday  9a.m. -12 p.m. & 1-4 p.m.