andover-area-chamber-of-commerce

6-month Anniversary and Update for the April 29 Tornado

Fri, 28 Oct 2022 02:24:56 GMT

6-month Anniversary and Update for the April 29 Tornado

Andover, KS

10/28/2022 02:01 PM

ANDOVER, KAN. Friday, October 28, 2022 – Saturday marks the six-month anniversary of the tornado that hit Andover and Butler and Sedgwick County in April 2022. Repairs, renovations, and rebuilds continue to move forward and an update can be found below:

The fencing for the dog park in Central Park is expected to be installed in about a month and materials have started to arrive. It took a few months for the order to be fulfilled by the manufacturer due to supply chain shortages.
Andover city staff members have been and continue to work with various consultants to determine the direction of the Lodge, a main public gathering building in Central Park. The Lodge was fully demolished in Central Park a few months ago.
The City of Andover lost a total of 18 vehicles in the storm. Ten new trucks have arrived, and another is on its way from the factory. One of the vehicles has been repaired and another vehicle has been partially repaired and is waiting on additional parts.
Repairs and renovations for the park maintenance shop, located in Central Park, were approved in August. Many of the storage buildings in the park were destroyed and insurance money will be utilized to consolidate the lost buildings into one. Roof repairs are complete on the park shop building.
Repairs have started in City Hall as well. Some of the glass windows were shattered during the storm. 70 percent of what was damaged has been replaced. Supply chain continues to affect the remaining 30 percent of the glass that still needs fixed. Roof repairs have been approved by the City Council and contracts are in the process of being executed.

The second volunteer workday was held on Saturday, October 22. Around 30 volunteers focused on the Yorktown tree row, picking up debris. The next volunteer workday is set for Saturday, November 5. Those interested in helping can sign up at www.unitedwayplains.org and click “Get Involved” at the top of the site.

The Long-Term Recovery Committee continues to meet on a regular basis. The Long-Term Recovery Committee will be responsible for strengthening disaster relief/recovery coordination between the City of Andover and Butler and Sedgwick Counties by sharing information, simplifying resident access to resources, and resolving cases with unmet needs. At this time, $122,146.08 has been distributed to 29 families in need from partners including the United Way, Great Plains Disaster Fund and Bob Mills.

If someone was affected by the April 29 tornado and has not been in contact with a case manager, please call 2-1-1. Financial donations are still being accepted and 100 percent of the proceeds go to disaster relief efforts. Donations can still be made through unitedwayplains.org.

Reference

Megan Schapaugh

mschapaugh@andoverks.com

http://andoverks.com

Local REALTOR® Association Donates to Andover Tornado Relief

Tue, 07 Jun 2022 02:24:57 GMT

Local REALTOR® Association Donates to Andover Tornado Relief

Andover, KS

06/07/2022 09:17 AM

The REALTORS® of South Central Kansas (RSCK) is collaborating with the National Association of REALTORS®’ REALTOR® Relief Foundation to provide support to victims impacted by the Andover, Kansas tornado on April 29, 2022. The REALTORS® Relief Foundation (RRF) is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization dedicated to providing housing-related assistance to victims of disasters. Created as a REALTOR®-driven response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, RRF continues to restore and rebuild communities affected by disasters such as wildfires, hurricanes, earthquakes, and tornados thanks to the generosity of individual REALTORS®, REALTOR® Associations, and affiliated organizations. Together, through the RRF, REALTORS® nationwide have awarded over $35 million helping over 17,000 families remain in their homes.

RSCK has been awarded a grant totaling $300,000 for tornado victims and a maximum of $2,000 will be provided to each qualified household. To apply for assistance, Andover tornado victims are to visit our website at www.sckrealtors.com/andovertornado . Assistance will be awarded on a first-come-first-serve basis until the grant funds are fully disbursed, or until the grant deadline of July 31, 2022. This assistance is for housing relief only and will cover one month of a mortgage or rent payment. Other living expenses are ineligible for reimbursement under this program. For questions or other inquiries, please contact us by email at tornado-relief@sckrealtors.com or call 316-263-3167.

“We are pleased to announce that we will be working with RRF to provide financial assistance to those devastated by the tornado that impacted Butler and Sedgwick counties,” said Sheila Rumsey, CEO of REALTORS® of South Central Kansas. “REALTORS® strive to strengthen and support their communities, and after this disaster, they are focused on helping to rebuild the neighborhoods affected by this devastation.”

The REALTORS® Relief Foundation welcomes contributions—not only in times of disaster but at any time throughout the year—and 100% of all funds collected go to disaster relief causes. To donate, please visit www.sckrealtors.com/rrfdonate .

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About RSCK

The REALTORS® of South Central Kansas (RSCK) is a local affiliate of the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR). Our 2500 members have met state requirements to sell real estate, but, most importantly, each member has also pledged to adhere to a strict Code of Ethics, promising to conduct their day-to-day business with the foremost concern for their clients. The mission of RSCK is to enhance the ability of our members to achieve success in an ethical and professional manner, and advocate for and be the voice of the real estate industry in South Central Kansas. For more information visit www.sckrealtors.com

APPLICATION

Reference

Alyssa York

316.263.3167

alyssa@sckrealtors.com

http://www.sckrealtors.com/andovertornado

Brooklyn Hamilton Joins United Way of the Plains

Wed, 01 Jun 2022 02:24:52 GMT

Brooklyn Hamilton Joins United Way of the Plains

Wichita, KS

06/01/2022 10:31 AM

WICHITA, Kan., June 1, 2022 — Brooklyn Hamilton has accepted the role of Associate Director of Philanthropy with United Way of the Plains. Hamilton will work directly with the Vice President of Philanthropy and the Director of Philanthropy to build strong partnerships with long-standing corporate partners and their workforces.

Hamilton has more than five years of nonprofit work experience and has attended Butler Community College as well as Fort Hays State University. She is certified in Mental Health First Aid, and Crisis Prevention and Intervention.

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MEDIA CONTACT: Angie Prather, Vice President of Marketing and Chief Community Engagement Officer, (316) 267-1321, aprather@unitedwayplains.org

United Way of the Plains is a nonprofit and for-impact organization that focuses on health , education, financial stability and basic needs – the building blocks for a good quality of life and a strong community. Our mission is to improve lives by harnessing the caring power of our community to advance the common good in south central Kansas. Follow us on these social media channels: Facebook , Twitter , Instagram , LinkedIn and TikTok.

Reference

Angie Prather, VP of Marketing

316-267-1321

aprather@unitedwayplains.org

http://www.unitedwayplains.org

Make the most of the season by following these simple guidelines

richard@membermomentum.com (Richard Scully) — Mon, 11 Oct 2021 00:28:50 GMT

The new season is a great reason to make and keep resolutions. Whether it’s eating right or cleaning out the garage, here are some tips for making and keeping resolutions.

Make a list

Lists are great ways to stay on track. Write down some big things you want to accomplish and some smaller things, too.

Check the list regularly

Don’t forget to check in and see how you’re doing. Just because you don’t achieve the big goals right away doesn’t mean you’re not making progress.

Reward yourself

When you succeed in achieving a goal, be it a big one or a small one, make sure to pat yourself on the back.

Think positively

Positive thinking is a major factor in success. So instead of mulling over things that didn’t go quite right, remind yourself of things that did.

Keep in touch with site visitors and boost loyalty

richard@membermomentum.com (Richard Scully) — Mon, 11 Oct 2021 00:28:50 GMT

There are so many good reasons to communicate with site visitors. Tell them about sales and new products or update them with tips and information.

Here are some reasons to make blogging part of your regular routine.

Blogging is an easy way to engage with site visitors

Writing a blog post is easy once you get the hang of it. Posts don’t need to be long or complicated. Just write about what you know, and do your best to write well.

Show customers your personality

When you write a blog post, you can really let your personality shine through. This can be a great tool for showing your distinct personality.

Blogging is a terrific form of communication

Blogs are a great communication tool. They tend to be longer than social media posts, which gives you plenty of space for sharing insights, handy tips and more.

It’s a great way to support and boost SEO

Search engines like sites that regularly post fresh content, and a blog is a great way of doing this. With relevant metadata for every post so search engines can find your content.

Drive traffic to your site

Every time you add a new post, people who have subscribed to it will have a reason to come back to your site. If the post is a good read, they’ll share it with others, bringing even more traffic!

Blogging is free

Maintaining a blog on your site is absolutely free. You can hire bloggers if you like or assign regularly blogging tasks to everyone in your company.

A natural way to build your brand

A blog is a wonderful way to build your brand’s distinct voice. Write about issues that are related to your industry and your customers.

Tips for writing great posts that increase your site traffic

richard@membermomentum.com (Richard Scully) — Mon, 11 Oct 2021 00:28:50 GMT

Write about something you know. If you don’t know much about a specific topic that will interest your readers, invite an expert to write about it.

Speak to your audience

You know your audience better than anyone else, so keep them in mind as you write your blog posts. Write about things they care about. If you have a company Facebook page, look here to find topics to write about

Take a few moments to plan your post

Once you have a great idea for a post, write the first draft. Some people like to start with the title and then work on the paragraphs. Other people like to start with subtitles and go from there. Choose the method that works for you.

Don’t forget to add images

Be sure to include a few high-quality images in your blog. Images break up the text and make it more readable. They can also convey emotions or ideas that are hard to put into words.

Edit carefully before posting

Once you’re happy with the text, put it aside for a day or two, and then re-read it. You’ll probably find a few things you want to add, and a couple more that you want to remove. Have a friend or colleague look it over to make sure there are no mistakes. When your post is error-free, set it up in your blog and publish.