news
November 20, 2007
Spreading Goodwill
The Young Professionals Community Service group came together to brighten local families holidays by making and delivering Thanksgiving baskets. The baskets included a full Thanksgiving meal with all of fixings including a turkey, stuffing, potatoes, corn, green been casserole, cranberry sauce, rolls, and a delicious pie for dessert! Additionally, the baskets included recipes for cooking the meal, and also extra items to help stock up their pantry for the next couple of months. The group met Monday evening to put together the baskets and prepare them for delivery. All six of the baskets were then hand delivered to the families Tuesday evening. The families very much appreciated the baskets and the volunteers that helped out had a great time.
July 30, 2007
First Annual Beach Bash- SUCCESS!
Saturday July 14, Young Professionals Bartlesville joined together with the ConocoPhillips New Hire Network to put on their first Summer Beach Bash as a fundraiser for Mary Martha Outreach and Agape Mission. The event took place at Hoops where the parking lot was turned into a veritable oasis complete with a sandy beach, live music by the band Less Than Perfect and burgers and hot dogs cooked out on the grill by Hoops employees. Attendees raised over $ 850 to go towards school supplies and other needs of the organizations.
Sponsors included the 66 Federal Credit Union who donated the food for the event and Red Bull who provided beverages and shady umbrellas. Over 50 YPB members were there including many ConocoPhillips New Hire Network members.
"We had a great turnout!" stated Amy Griffin, newly appointed YP Chair, "Our members enjoy our social activities but more importantly they are very generous with their time and money. We recognize that there is a need in this community and we're very happy to be able to contribute."
Special thanks goes to Casey Willman of ConocoPhillips who not only helped with the planning and organization of the event but also kept everyone cool with a water mister all afternoon.
"Casey was a lifesaver," stated Sara Pannell, YP member and business development manager for the 66 Federal Credit Union, "all outdoor events should be so lucky!"
For more information on how you can join Young Professionals Bartlesville go to www.ypbartlesville.com. Young Professionals Bartlesville is open to any working member in the community age 21 to the young at heart.
May 5, 2007
YPB Rising Star Award Nomination Form
Have you noticed a particular YPB that has gone over and above the call of duty and deserves to be recognized this year? If so, we want you to fill out the brief nomination form and submit it to the Chamber by June 4th. Everyone will be considered, however only one YPB will be recognized for their excellent contributions from the past year at the Chamber of Commerce's Annual Meeting on June 21, 2007 at Hillcrest Country Club.
If you know someone who deserves this award, please fill out the nomination form by June 4th.
April 5, 2007
From School and Recreation to Downtown Development
Did you hear what happened at the city council meeting on Monday night? There was heated public discussion on an agenda item that would move the concept of downtown development beyond artist renditions. The new study would focus on the feasibility and detailed plans of how hospitality and retail development could thrive in downtown Bartlesville. We’re talking site selections, needs assessments, etc. The players, CBRichardEllis, don’t get any bigger in the real estate world. They have access to ideas, markets and developers from every corner of this country and the world.
Debate centered on whether the study should be paid for with City funds set aside for Economic Development. It’s another reminder that there is a constituency in Bartlesville who are still on the fence of progress vs the status quo. This emphasizes the need for our demographic to raise up as one collective voice and be heard. I realize that a school bond issue and a city recreational plan may not appeal to the segment of our demographic without children. I fall into that category myself. But, regardless of family status, these two issues are as close as we are going to get to a public referendum on the future of Bartlesville. And if we don’t individually, and collectively, vote in support of both initiatives, it will embolden the anti-progressive and the status quo.
However, if both pass in a blaze of glory, be assured that the folks from CBRichardEllis will be touting the successful elections to developers as a sign the citizens of Bartlesville have made a choice about their future. A choice that says the wants and needs of our demographic are imperative to attracting a strong workforce to Bartlesville. A workforce that is essential to the long-term success of our city.
From schools to recreation to commercial development. Let’s make our voices loud and clear May 8th and beyond.
Brent
November 8, 2006
Congrats to Russ Vaclaw!
It was banner day for one of our own YPs, Russell Vaclaw, as he won his bid to be the next Associate District Judge in Washington County. Russ’s term begins January 1 and he can’t wait to serve the community he grew up in. He won by narrowest of margins, 272 votes, while maintaining a positive campaign throughout. This just goes to show that each and every one of our votes counts. Russ will embody our demographic proudly from his position of leadership in our community. We can now claim representation in the Oklahoma Judicial System, Bartlesville City Council (Brandon Kerr) and Bartlesville Public School Board (Randy John) amongst our members. There was a day and time it would have been unheard of.
November 6, 2006
Musing by Brent
It has been said many times that “Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote.” I’m going to add my little spin to this for the 22-40 age demographic in our great town…”Lack of progress in Bartlesville is tolerated by good citizens who do not vote.”
How can a general election, with no quality of life issues on the ballot, impact progress in Bartlesville? First and foremost, any election where we decide who represents us as:
- Associate District Judge (protecting our rights),
- County Commissioner (developing Washington County),
- State government (education, taxes, etc) and
- Representatives in Washington (Lord knows they have plenty on their plates)…
is going to impact our daily lives. But, there is so much more to gain. We’ve got some very important decisions ahead of us in Bartlesville. Three major funding initiatives will likely be presented to the voters for consideration in the near future:
- Massive improvements to our schools
- Significant upgrades to the parks system
- New county jail
All of these will impact the quality of life for each and every one of us. Even those of us without kids have a stake in the quality of our school system. World class schools will bring in more people, which brings in more retail, which will bring in more restaurants and entertainment. Bing, Bang, Boom. All of our problems are solved! Kidding of course. Kind of.
Voting in Tuesday’s general election will go a long way in showing our willingness to actively participate in the issues that impact Bartlesville. It will lend credibility to our voice when we have to fight the fight for the quality of life issues that we hold near and dear to our hearts. Let’s begin tomorrow by rolling out in mass and every other election in the future. Let’s not let something as simple as voting get in the way of true progress!
Voting can be a lot like exercising:
It becomes a habit, even though you really don’t want to take the time to do it. You feel good about yourself afterwards because you have made a difference. Over time, it will improve the quality of your life.
Hit the polls on Tuesday, November 7th. Let’s help to make Bartlesville a more attractive place for us to live, work, and play.
Brent
November 3, 2006
YPB Hosts Freaky Fun Night for area youth.
Monday October 30 from 4:30 – 6:30, Young Professionals Bartlesville (YPB) made sure to scare up some fun at the Boys and Girls Club of Bartlesville. YPB played host to various local youth from the Boys and Girls Club and Big Brothers Big Sisters. The Bartlesville High School Student Council was also there to lend a helping and Halloween hand.
Activities included face painting, a prize walk, pumpkin coloring, mummy wrapping and much, much more. Little ghosts and goblins were also treated to an assortment prizes and Halloween themed trinkets. YPB decided to put on the event in order to provide a fun event for youth and also give something back to the community.
“Not only did we hope to provide a safe and fun environment,” states Amy Griffin, YPB Chair of Community Services, “but we wanted to enrich the lives of both the youth and the volunteers.”
Many sponsors made the event a great success. YPB will continue to seek out opportunities to work with these organizations in order to continue to provide community services to the Bartlesville area. Special thanks to YPB, ConocoPhillips, 66 Federal Credit Union, Arvest, Chili’s, Hastings, Candy Craze, Big Lots, Mays Drug Store, K-Mart, Aldi’s, Dr. Whistler’s Dentistry, Atwood’s, Downtown Homeland and United Grocery.
October 2, 2006
Musings By Brent
Musings by Brent
I am a firm believer that when change is needed there is no better way to facilitate that change than from within. At the YPB general meeting in August, the entire membership heard that we are at a point in our growth cycle where not only is it ripe for us to make our voice heard, but it is to the point where community and business leaders are downright begging us to take such positions. The road has never been so clear for us drive down with our ears pinned back, full speed ahead.
Two YPs made headlines in the last month, choosing to lead the way and providing us a voice at the top levels of our local government. In early September, Brandon Kerr was appointed to the vacated Ward 5 seat on the City Council, and a couple of weeks later Randy John was appointed to the vacated Office 6 seat on the Bartlesville Public Schools Board. Both bring to their respective seats an incredible set of tools and more importantly a vision of what this town can become. I personally commend both for putting themselves in the forefront of the public eye. It won’t be all smooth sailing ahead but the good they can do far outweighs any bumps they may encounter. They will be fielding calls from all sorts of citizens over the next few months and years. I ask that all members of YPB help offset the crazy ones with words of encouragement, appreciation, and most importantly ideas of what can help make Bartlesville a better place to live, work, and play.
The work doesn’t stop here, though. YPB is trying to submit at least one name to every city committee opening as they become available. So far we have placed or are in the process of finding individuals for the Parks Board, Board of Adjustment, Sewer Committee, and Sanitation Committee. Not all of them are glamorous, but if you keep up with local news you know each has there own set of challenges that will impact each and every one of us.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. More seats will be coming open. These are not only opportunities to make a difference in Bartlesville, but can be outlets to developing and refining the leadership skills we will all need in order to be successful in our chosen careers. The heads of our Community Development Work Group, Scott Bilger and Scot Harlow, always have a list of the available positions. Email or call them and come be a part of the great change from within.
And as always, remember…
Be Positive. Be Passionate. Be Public. Be YPB.
Brent
