Recycling Trailer Schedule

Keep collecting your recyclable materials for the trailer - save them from entering the landfill!  The Cass County Green Team is meeting Thursday, Jan. 20th . . . please email editor@unionnebraska for ideas or ways to improve / promote recyling in Union / Cass County.

Auditions at the Lofte Community Theatre

Manley, NE [January 5, 2011]-  The Lofte Community Theatre near Manley will hold auditions for “Leaving Iowa” on January 31 and February 1 at 7pm.  The production requires three men and three women.  Auditions will consist of cold readings from the script.  The production will be directed by Kevin Colbert of Weeping Water.
 
“Leaving Iowa” is the story of Don Browning, a middle-aged writer who decides it is finally time to take his father’s ashes to his childhood home.  But when Don discovers that Grandma’s house is now a grocery store, he begins traveling across Iowa searching for a proper resting place for his father.  The father-and-son road trip shifts smoothly from the present to Don’s memories of the annual tortuous vacations of his childhood.
 
The production will serve as the Lofte’s entry in the upcoming Nebraska Association of Community Theaters competition March 18-20.  It will also be the 2011 season opener for the Lofte with performance dates on May 28, 29, June 3-5 and 9-12.
 
Those with questions in regards to the production should contact Lofte Artistic Director Kevin Colbert at (402) 234-2553.

KBC productions announces “Picasso at the Lapin Agile”

January 17, 2011 [Ashland, NE] -  KBC productions announces that the second play in its winter season, “Picasso at the Lapin Agile,” opens on Saturday, January 22 at Mahoney State Park.
 
“Picasso at the Lapin Agile,” is written by Steve Martin.  Most famous for his comedic skits and appearances in many movies and television shows, Mr. Martin wrote the script in 1993.  The comedy places Albert Einstein and Pablo Picasso in a Parisian café in 1904, just before Einstein transformed the world of academia with his theory of relativity and before Picasso set the art world on fire with cubism.  This fictional tale sees two geniuses discussing the century’s achievements as well as many other fanciful topics.  You will be treated to giggles aplenty and moments of sheer enlightenment.  Staff suggests a PG13 rating for this show.
 
The show is produced by Kevin Colbert and directed by Katherine Cover, both of Weeping Water.  The rest of the cast includes  William M. Cover II and Timron Gilfert of Weeping Water, Noelle Bohaty, Clay Stevens, Kyle Lorenz, Mellisa Marinovich, Travis Triplett and Grant Covney all of Lincoln; Kevin Holdorf of Manley; and Cynthia Sheldon of Elmwood.
 
The production runs January 22, 23, 28-30, February 4-6, 10-14 and 18-20.  Curtain times are 7:30pm except for Sundays which are 2pm matinees.  Tickets are $8 for adults and $6 for children.  A state park sticker or purchase of a day pass is required for entrance into the park.  For reservations, please call Mahoney State Park at (402) 944-2523 ext. 7122. 
 
Pictured on Attachment:  Clay Stevens, Noelle Bohaty and Kyle Lorenz all of Lincoln appear in KBC Productions’ “Picasso at the Lapin Agile.”

Otoe County Genealogical Society February 2011 Meeting Information

The Otoe County Genealogical Society will host its February 10th meeting at 7:00pm at the Unadilla Community Library at 770 'G' Street in Unadilla, Nebraska.  A presentation titled "Researching Your Civil War Ancestors" will be given to assist researchers in not only locating information about their Civil War ancestors, but also in the procedures of joining the Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War, and Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War.

Community Involvement Spurs New Ideas*

How do we get people involved in our town?” So many of our communities and organizations are suffering from “STP” (same ten people) syndrome. It not only wears them out, we also miss the new people and ideas that can make a real difference. So how do you get people involved? The best way to get someone involved is to ask them – directly and personally. People get involved because they want to meet new people or get to know them better, to have fun, to work on an interest they have, and connect to some higher purpose. But the main reason they get involved is they are asked.

I talked about the success Muriel Krusemark had in Hoffman, Minnesota, a town of 672 (read the article here). She is not shy about getting people involved. As her 16 new families moved into Hoffman over the last two years, she welcomed them with a gift basket and asked what they bring to the community and how they might use those skills to better Hoffman. Muriel made sure they got to use those skills.

Help someone recognize their importance. People are more likely to become involved if they realize how important their involvement is and they have something to offer. Ask them what they want to do, and let them use their skills.

Seriously consider expanding your sphere of volunteers. Can you partner with your neighboring community on something? Building a cross-community action team can help address the real challenge of finding enough people to become involved.

Finally, let go. People often don’t get involved because the “STP” won’t let go of the way things have always been done. Getting people involved does not just mean you’ve found another person to restack the chairs after the meeting, it also means you are developing a new leader.

Listen to their ideas and support their efforts. Give them room to fail, assistance when they do, and demonstrate enough confidence in them that they can try again. Soon, you’ll have so many volunteers you’ll be hard-pressed to use the “STP” gang at all!

*Article from Center for Rural Affairs, Jan. 2011 Newsletter.  Please Contact Kathie Starkweather, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 402.438.8496 for more information.

Small Business Owners . . .

Register for the 2011 Nebraska MarketPlace!

The Fifth Annual MarketPlace Conference is coming to the Kearney Ramada and Convention Center in Kearney, Nebraska on Feb. 22 & 23, 2011. Top-notch professionals will present high quality educational sessions. A Resource Zone will feature abundant networking opportunities with people from around Nebraska and other states. Don't miss this event!

Conference Registration is only $35 for early birds!  Register Today:

 Click here to Register Online or to Register by Phone, call Joy Marshall, Center for Rural Affairs at 402.614.5558.

Note: Walk-in’s are not guaranteed admission (based on available space).  Register Today!

Advance registration guarantees your spot at the fifth annual Nebraska MarketPlace conference, and also provides these benefits:

•Resource Zone Admission - Free to Conference registrants.
•General Sessions - Free to conference registrants.
•Educational Sessions - Free to conference registrants.
•Conference Proceedings - Free to conference registrants.
•Wednesday lunch and breaks - Free to conference registrants.
•Access to the MarketPlace Store - Free to conference registrants.

Still have questions? Contact conference planner Joy Marshall for more information: 402.614.5558 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .