Reader's Letters
Here's to Truman County
I really do see your point in regards to re-naming the counties. Why should our counties be named after people who have had nothing to do with them. Map makers probably haven't had much stress in years and need a little something to make their life less dreary. What is funny is that I had made this same point to others recently and actually thought Truman County would be better than Jackson County. Most people thought I was crazy. Most people want things to the stay the same and don't want changes. I would like the county name to actually mean something.
Jeff Sheets Gladstone, MO
You Guys Have Grit
A belated thanks to Ingram's and its readers for honoring Fleishman-Hillard as the best PR agency in town. The "best of" issue gets a lot of attention each year, so we are really proud to be named a leader within our industry and our community. More importantly, thank you for your leadership. You guys have grit. You take chances and bring people together to talk about the issues of the day. At a time when many believe that Kansas City is "good enough", we need more people like you challenging the status quo so we can move from a great city to a world class city.
Rick Thaemert Sr. Vice President, Partner & GM Fleishman Hillard, Kansas City, MO
The Indian Scout
Most people living in the five county metro area know KC's statue of the Indian Scout. Many people do not know where in KC he is, but they know he is here. We've seen him on TV when the national media comes to town. The Scout, located on a hill, is looking over the City trying to find a better way. Ingram's and Kansas Citians have something in common with the Indian Scout. They also are looking for a better way and thanks to Ingram's, the movers and shakers of KC have been meeting to discuss all sectors of KC. Many people have voiced their opinion on how to improve KC but there seems to be no consensus yet.
The recent naming of area counties based upon your perception of that region provides an insight into the identity crisis of the KC area. In your travels outside the "Midwest" (East Coast media description of Central USA) how do people identify Kansas City?
There is nothing that defines KC. Cowtown? Speedway? Chiefs? Fountains? Royals? These are only regional descriptions. Nothing nationally or internationally identifies KC. If this generation of movers & shakers want to improve KC then a decision needs to be made how to brand KC. How can we do this when there is nothing internationally known about it to brand? Denver and a few other cities are fortunate to have a natural tourist attraction to identify them but other cities have created their own identity. St. Louis and the Arch is the best example. It has no ocean frontage or lake frontage and no mountains. It is just another central USA city, but it has an international identity because of the Arch.
Solution: Creating an international identity will attract more tourism and more money, etc. What should our national or international identity be? I personally don't know. But there is a five-county tax (Union Station) available to finance it and a lot of smart movers & shakers to make it happen. Maybe you and the Indian Scout can find it.
Bill Hillix Smithville, MO
Learn How to DO Something
Jack Cashill (July) talks about the "betrayal" of American students who graduate without learning what they need to know to compete in the business world. He's right. Gaining credentials has gotten to be more important than learning a trade or profession. My late father's advice always was: "Learn how to DO something." When college graduates applied for jobs at his successful farm implement dealership, he'd say, "The degree is great, but what can you do?" Susan Pepperdine, Pepperdine & Associates Overland Park, KS
Regional Appreciation
[Warrensburg Area Regional Publication: Sept., 2003] We love it! When is Ingram's going to open a satellite office in Warrensburg?
Jean Othic, Warrensburg Area EDC