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Action speaks louder than words
A group of young business leaders who share a vision for the betterment of Fort Scott are taking strides to make that vision come true.
About 25 people flocked to Main Street Tuesday night with brooms and dust pans in hand in order to take part in the Young Professionals League's Sweep the Streets Project. According to YPL member and local business owner Gary Palmer, the YPL members swept the sidewalks along Main Street. The group, which began on the north end of the street and swept their way south, worked in teams of five to remove debris from the sidewalks.
Palmer said Fort Scott Public Works Director Eric Bailey usually sends the street sweeper down Main street every Thursday night. However, since the YPL was conducting their street sweep on Tuesday night, Bailey authorized Fort Scott Public Works employee Jeff Chaplin to help the group by running the street sweeper on the Tuesday night.
Palmer said that it has been difficult for downtown business owners to keep Main Street clean through the winter months. He said that he hopes the work that the YPL did during the street sweep will encourage the business owners to continue sweeping the sidewalks in front of their businesses in an effort to keep Main street looking nice.
YPL member Jamie Armstrong said that while she was sweeping part of Main Street, she had a youth approach her to inquire as to why she was sweeping the street. After Armstrong explained to the youth that she loves Fort Scott and wants to keep it clean, the youth invited her to come to sweep the street that he lives on. Armstrong said that the encounter with the youngster encouraged her.
"Maybe he will think twice about throwing down a gum wrapper in the future," she said.
YPL, established in November 2007, is a strategic brainstorming group that strives to come up with ideas that will be beneficial to Fort Scott. The goal of the group is not just to talk about activities that can be completed, but to actually complete those suggested tasks, according to Palmer.
"Our short term goal is to at least once a month have something that is tangible that the community can see. Something that community members can point their fingers at and say, 'YPL did this,'" Palmer said.
Although YPL has not been in place for very long, their short-term goal is already being achieved as the work that they have been undertaking is already being noticed by community members. Country Cupboard owner Judy Renard said that she has been really impressed by the work that the local group has been doing.
"I think it is a great idea pulling those people together, who have new fresh ideas. They're not only talking the talk; they're walking the walk. It shows positive things happening," Renard said.
Armstrong said that she enjoys living in Fort Scott and understands that the upkeep of her hometown is the responsibility of to those who live in the community.
"We get so wrapped up in our daily lives that we forget about our community. It is all our responsibility to take care of our community," she said. "We all complain but seldom roll up our sleeves and take action. If you are tired of seeing something being a certain way, you have to be willing to do something."
Palmer said that last month the group purchased ads, which were placed in The Fort Scott Tribune, encouraging residents to shop in downtown Fort Scott. He said that the group is currently discussing a "Shop Fort Scott" weekend, which could be conducted sometime in the future. The group is constantly looking for ways to better their hometown community.
"YPL is trying to encourage positive growth and does a lot of strategic planning to try to help Fort Scott in various ways," Palmer said.
According to Palmer, the organization has received donations and sponsorship from area business, which enable the group to fund some of their projects. Although Captured Images sponsored Tuesday's street sweep, Palmer said that Wal-Mart's donations of window cleaners and brooms helped to make the event possible.