2020 We Kan! Conference. More topics. Lodging conference rate ends today. See who's coming.

2020 We Kan! Conference

Rural is an opportunity: Inventional outcomes

Underwritten by major support from

Project WeKan! , Courtland

Kansas Department of Commerce , Topeka

Wednesday, March 18, Meridian Center , Newton

9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. $75

Registration deadline March 9. No refunds after this time.

Share conference information with this link: conta.cc/2v9KCe6

Who should attend? More about the conference. Go here .

Conference Bonus

Tuesday, March 17, 2-7 p.m. $30

Intergenerational Child Care and a Close Up View of Prairy Market

2-3:30 p.m. Tour and learn about Hesston Community Child Care and how they provide intergenerational experiences with the residents of Schowalter Villa.

3:30-4:15 p.m. Opportunity to check in at lodging site.

4:30-6:30 p.m. Tour, discussion, and evening meal at Prairy Market, 601 N. Main, Newton. Prairy Market is is a full line natural foods market, featuring local seasonal and organic produce, and locally sourced specialty meats including beef, bison, lamb, free-range chicken. They also offer prepared items and make a line of food products for wholesale, as well. What are the pro's and con's of working with local producers and serving prepared foods. We'll also talk about their branding, marketing techniques, and online shopping cart. Our evening meal? Chicken pot pie or beef lasagna, salad, and a slice of the local Salted Creamery ice cream pie!

Lodging

Cut-off for conference motel is today

CONFERENCE MOTEL

Holiday Inn Express & Suites Newton (adjoins the Meridian Center)

1430 East Broadway Court, Newton, Kansas 67114

Block rate is $94 for a single king room and $104 for double queen rooms.

Cut off date is February 24 . Ask for Kansas Sampler Foundation group rate.

To get this conference rate, call directly, 316.804.7040. Ask for We Kan! Conference rate. You won't be able to get conference rate by booking online.

For additional lodging in Newton, click here . Get to know Newton here .

Scroll below to see topics,

attendees-to-date, and sponsors!

Topics will be covered in 45-minute breakout sessions, 15-minute Speed Meeting round tables, and a few other short-but-sweet methods. The opening and closing sessions will be pretty cool. You'll learn alot, you'll meet people, you'll get picked up and perked up for doing the hard work of keeping our communities moving forward.

45-minute breakout-session topics (you'll be able to attend three)

Database growth and management secrets for fundraising success.
Foundational things needed for community success.
First steps for child care
The beginning of trail development
Crowdfunding just got more simple. Bring your project idea!
How the state's workforce program can help your rural community
Tourism Tidbits that make a Big Difference
Unlock your housing brain
Hear this for the future of rural health care in your community
Ideas and Support for Main Street
Art Should Be More Than A Decoration!
Community Service Tax Credits Can Boost Your Project! Are you eligible?

Speed-meeting round tables (you'll choose three)

Not all are confirmed yet

What are you doing for your 150th?
Ask field reps about state programs
The impact of a strong recreation and fitness program
The impact of land banks
Youth entrepreneur challenge, Network Kansas
What do you want to ask/tell your Congressman?
What's important about the census?
Getting your Older-Awesomes involved
How do we keep our recycling program?
A little green space makes a big impact
Coffee shops, craft beer, microbreweries. Are they a big deal?

Registrations as of 02.24.20. Can't wait to see your name on the list!

Barbara Anderson, Kansas Department of Commerce field rep, Topeka

Karen Befort, City of Harper, Harper

Stacy Clark, Rice County Economic Development, Lyons

Randy Collett, City of Marion, Marion

Marian Condray, Cloud County Tourism, Concordia

Pam Crain, Visit Ark City, Arkansas City

Kathie Crispin, Lincoln County Tourism Coalition, Lincoln

Helen Dobbs, Cheyenne County Development Corporation, St. Francis

Taylor Dye, City of Cimarron, Cimarron

Kerri Falletti, Cowley First, Winfield

Mandy Fincham, Kettle Coffee, Beloit

Lynda Fort, Mulvane Revitalized and Renovated Downtown, Mulvane

Dawn Gabel, Lovewell Fundraising, Hays

Dustin Gale, Kansas Department of Commerce (Community Service Tax Credits), Topeka

Pamela Gerbert, City of Harper

Jody Goetz, Kingman Convention & Tourism Board Member, Kingman

Lisa Goodheart, Jewell County Community Development, Glen Elder

Michael Goodwin, Kansas Trails Council, Topeka

Sarah Green, Kansas Department of Transportation, Wichita

Tracee Hamilton, Lincoln County Historical Society, Lincoln

Josey Hammer, Project WeKan, Courtland

Christopher Harris, Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, Lawrence

Heather Hartman, Mitchell County Community Development, Beloit

Joseph Hirsch, Sunflower State Tours, Hope

Jessica Hopwood, KUMC Rural Health Education and Services, Wichita

Palsley Howerton, Arkansas City Area Chamber of Commerce

Joy Jensen, Eureka

Bridgette Jobe, Kansas Wildlife, Parks and Tourism, Topeka

David Jordan, United Methodist Health Ministry Fund, Hutchinson

Sarah Kleopfer, Hiawatha Chamber and Visitors Bureau, Hiawatha

Tanya Koehn, Child Care Aware of Kansas, Salina

Bonnie Kopper, City of Garden Plain

Sam Kudrick, Visit Coffeyville

Renee Lippincott, Kansas Department of Commerce field rep, Topeka

Bryan Lisbona, Kinfolk Creative, Basehor

Holly Lofton, Convention and Visitors Bureau, Lindsborg

Kimberly McCormick, City of Garden Plain

Tami McGreevy, Ellsworth Area Chamber of Commerce, Ellsworth

Gloria Moore, Washington County Tourism, Barnes

Erika Nelson, Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission, Lucas

Heather Pierson, Kansas Department of Commerce, Topeka

Christy Preston, Network Kansas, Andover

Sasha Randolph, KUMC Rural Health Education and Services, Wichita

Lisse Regehr, Thrive Allen County, Iola

Joni Regnier, McPherson Convention & Visitors Bureau, McPherson

Christen Robinson, Child Care Aware of Kansas, Salina

Jaid Runft, JenRus Freelance, Courtland

Jenny Russell, JenRus Freelance, Courtland

Tami Sauer, Phillips County CVB/Phillipsburg Chamber and Main Street, Phillipsburg

Katie Sawyer, U.S. Congressman Roger Marshall's field office, McPherson

Becky Schievelbein, Clearwater Chamber of Commerce

Leslie Schrag, Kingman County Economic Development

Lea Ann Seiler, Hodgeman County Economic Development, Jetmore

George Semb, Lenexa

Melody Spurney, Newton Convention & Visitors Bureau, Newton

Ashlynn Showalter, Cowley First, Winfield

Gretchin Staples, Rural & Remote, Beloit

Katie Stark, KUMC Rural Health Education and Services, KC, MO

Don Steeples, Just a Farm, Palco

Tammy Steeples, Just a Farm, Palco

Lonnie Stieben, Southern Kansas Telephone, Clearwater

Karen Sturm, Caldwell Area Chamber of Commerce, Caldwell

Ciara Thyfault, NetWork Kansas, Andover

Mollea Wainscott, Dodge City/Ford County Development Corporation, Dodge City

Jordan Waite, Ellinwood Chamber of Commerce, Ellinwood

Elaine Webb, Southern Kansas Telephone

Suzanne Webb, Southern Kansas Telephone, Clearwater

Angie Wells, Phillips County CVB/Phillipsburg Chamber and Main Street, Phillipsburg

Sarah Werner, Winfield Area Chamber of Commerce, Winfield

Kelly Yarbrough, Kansas Creative Arts Industries Commission, Manhattan

Danielle Young, City of Cheney, Cheney