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General
| Any group or business interested in working with the City of Marion, its residents, and other units of government, will find that they could not be approaching the community at a better time in terms of local cooperation and interaction. A spirit of cooperation has existed for many years. The annual Old Settlers Day celebration, sponsored by the local Kiwanis Club, includes activities both on city streets and in Central Park. The City works with the Kiwanis members to spruce up the community before and after the celebration. Our Chingawassa Days Festival was started in 1997 as a separate committee from the Chamber of Commerce. This festival encompasses the entire community for a full weekend, and has always received outstanding cooperation from the City, to the extent that they are now considered to be a city committee receiving insurance coverage and ongoing assistance from city staff. The spirit of cooperation has always been prevalent in Marion. The residents are becoming even more interested in improving the community for everyone who lives here. The Chingawassa Days committee has, for many years, had a rhinoceros as it's mascot. When the committee decided to try and convince local merchants to buy, decorate and display a 250 pound concrete rhino statue to promote Chingawassa Days, the goal was to get 5-10 on Main Street. At $100 each, the committee was amazed that their goal of 10 was surpassed by 50 more. The community showed its imagination and sense of humor in coming together to back this promotion that now allows Marion to proudly claim to be the “Rhino Capital of Kansas". We now offer an official Rhino Tour map to guide visitors to view the nearly 100 rhinos decorated throughout our town. Perhaps the best example of the ongoing positive attitude and spirit of cooperation is the joint project currently being undertaken by the City of Marion and USD 408. They have joined forces and entered into an interlocal agreement to complete the new gymnasium, auditorium and indoor swimming pool. The pool will be shared jointly between the City and USD 408 with all costs associated with its operation split 50/50. This example of interlocal cooperation will benefit residents of the entire school dDistrict, and is only possible because local leaders are thinking and working hard at finding ways to work together for the benefit of those they serve. The Marion Advancement Campaign is a community group which has formed a non-profit corporation/foundation dedicated to investing in the future of Marion. The campaign has taken on the task of funding a local community center. In a short period of time, they have raised over $50,000 towards the project. The community is actively working together to reach their common goal. The campaign has also been able to offer two $250 scholarships to graduating seniors each year. |