MORAN — Collaboration is the key for local civic groups to grow and prosper, Barbara Chalker Anderson said Tuesday.
Anderson, of the Kansas Department of Commerce, spoke to 23 representatives of 4-H, Kansas Masons and PRIDE committees in eastern Allen County.
The three groups have met jointly before after the Kansas Masonic Foundation donated $1 million to the Kansas PRIDE organization in 2016.
Anderson spoke briefly about the three organizations, and the impact each has made locally and around the world.
Jennifer Murphy, a Southwind Extension agent, spoke about Allen County’s five 4-H clubs, City Slickers, Square B, Prairie Rose, Prairie Dell and Logan Pals. Representatives from each club came forward to talk about past, current and future projects, such as when 4-H’ers assisted with LaHarpe’s citywide cleanup and clearing downed limbs following an October tornado in Humboldt; collecting earrings for cancer patients through the “Lobes of Love” campaign; spearheading canned food drives; and laying wreaths on veterans’ graves.
Members of two Masonic lodges — Marmaton Lodge out of Moran and Virginia Lodge from Savonburg — spoke about the history of their lodges and recent projects, such as offering cancer screenings, providing college scholarships and giving aid to families in crisis.
The Marmaton Lodge, working in league with the Jones Hardy American Legion Post, recently purchased 75 American flags to be erected at the Moran cemetery for Memorial Day and other veteran-honored holidays.
PRIDE groups from Moran, LaHarpe and Savonburg spoke about their past and present endeavors.
Moran PRIDE provides a bus to transport youngsters during the summer to the Iola Municipal Pool; hosts a monthly food distribution point; and is assisting with efforts to open a new fitness center.
LaHarpe PRIDE has been installing new playground equipment at the city park, helped several residents clean their yards last fall, and will soon refurbish a sand volleyball court at the park. The committee will host an Easter egg hunt at 2 p.m. Saturday.
Savonburg PRIDE, which took shape in January, recently held a chili and soup supper to benefit a local resident in need
ANDERSON ended the discussion by talking about the upcoming Week of PRIDE, May 21-28.
While nothing has been planned for the week, several other activities are on tap.
Attendees noted LaHarpe will christen its new park equipment with a ribbon-cutting celebration at 11 a.m. May 20. Hot dogs will be served. (Anderson will present LaHarpe PRIDE with its new Community of Excellence sign at that time as well.)
Moran PRIDE/Thrive will host its annual garage sale and plant swap May 6 at the Community Center to coincide with Moran’s citywide garage sales.
Savonburg PRIDE plans to have a county dumpster delivered to town in May for a clean-up of Main and Walnut streets. They hope to add more streets soon.
The Virginia Lodge in Savonburg will host a fish and mountain oyster fry from 5 to 7 p.m. April 29 at the Savonburg Community Center. It will be a free-will donation to help raise money for their philanthropic giving.
Anderson concluded Tuesday’s meeting by noting the local groups can expand their reach even further by reaching out to other organizations, such as Kiwanis, Rotary and Boy Scouts.
