During the first Chamber Coffee of the new year, the Chamber of Commerce introduced staff and new and returning board members to local business leaders of the community, also summarizing accomplishments from 2015 and announcing upcoming 2016 events.

“We do have an exciting year coming up,” chamber coffee hostess Rita Baker of Mercy Hospital said, saying the chamber will hold a strategic planning meeting soon to continue planning out the new year.

Baker said the chamber currently has 385 members, whose fees allow the chamber to hold events throughout the year. In 2015, the chamber organized events such as Fort Scott’s first Manufacturing Day, the third year of the high school mentoring program, the first three-species hunt, the opening of the LaRoche Baseball Complex and fundraisers such as the annual Golf Classic and Forks and Corks events.

Baker encouraged members to stay involved in such local events and invite others to join.

Fort Scott City Manager Dave Martin said he has spoken with members of other communities who ask why new businesses come to Fort Scott, and said he believes it is because of the cooperation between the businesses and other entities such as the college and school districts with the leadership of the Chamber of Commerce.

“I just want everybody to realize how important the chamber is,” Martin said.

Upcoming events or needs in the community include:

• The LEAD Bourbon County course begins Thursday with the Chamber Coffee and will meet monthly over the next 10 months. Those still interested in joining can sign up and the Young Professionals League has a scholarship available.
• The Fitness Center at Mercy Hospital in Fort Scott is currently waiving new membership fees for those interested in joining.
• The Fort Scott National Historic Site will be in need of employees by the summer, accepting applications from high school students and adults.
• First United Methodist Church will be hosting medical screenings next Thursday against the possibility of a stroke.
• The Fort Scott Community College will host a Martin Luther King Day luncheon in honor of the holiday.
• On February 9, at 1 p.m., the Fort Scott National Historic Site will host a class on how to properly burn pastures.
• The Rotary Club will host their Dancing with our Stars fundraiser event on February 26, but are still looking for couples who may be interested in participating.
• Country singer and Kansan Lucas Maddy will perform at the Liberty Theatre, March 6.