Today is the day we’ve been waiting for. It’s the day we’ve planned for and talked about for more than a year. It’s March 23, 2023 – our 100th anniversary!
Back on March 23, 1923, a group of 11 Chamber Board members were in Topeka signing our letters of incorporation with the state of Kansas. That Board represented 132 Chamber members that year, a list that included the Dennis Motor Company, the Grange Store, First National Bank, Hyer & Sons, the Olathe Mirror newspaper, the Olathe Light & Power Company and Patrons Bank – just to name a few.
What began as a gathering of business owners as an outgrowth of the existing Merchants & Farmers Association, the Olathe Chamber of Commerce began as an informal organization for a few years before being incorporated with the state of Kansas and earning our charter on March 23, 1923.
Not only are we celebrating our 100th anniversary today, we’re also celebrating the launch of our brand-new Olathe Chamber blog. In this space – and on the companion Economic Development Council blog – you’ll find everything you need to know about what’s going on at the Olathe Chamber of Commerce.
More than just an area for the latest news about the Chamber and EDC, the blogs will feature some more insight into what, why and when. We’ll discuss the benefits of the Chamber, give readers an inside look at how the Chamber works, as well as information about upcoming events.
Our news section gives you the information you need, but our blogs will give you the story behind the information you need.
Both will be similar to our Visit Olathe Blog that has been helping keep you informed about everything our Olathe Convention & Visitors Bureau has been doing to help promote our amazing community.
As far as our celebration goes, it’s not just about today, it’ll last all year long. We’ll celebrate our rich history and some of our longtime members. You’ll see these celebrations here on our blog, in our weekly eFlash and all over our social media channels. Here’s to the next 100 years.