Eighty-one years ago, the Lawrence Chamber of Commerce hosted a “First Annual Dinner.”

The idea was to spend an evening looking at Lawrence in an objective and honest manner and hearing the ideas and thoughts of several respected Lawrence residents on the strengths and weaknesses of their city.

On one page of the printed invitation and program is the question “Why Live in Lawrence?” followed by the subhead, “Because it answers in the affirmative these questions.” The questions and answers, labeled the “Ten Tests of a Town,” were:

“1. Is it attractive? Yes.

“2. Is it healthful? Yes.

“3. Does it offer educational opportunity? Yes, the best in Kansas.

“4. Are the people friendly? Yes.

“5. Does it have good recreational advantages? Yes.

“6. Are living conditions good? Yes.

“7. Is it accessible? Yes, the best transportation facilities anywhere.

“8. Are business conditions and opportunities good? Yes.

“9. Are employment conditions good? Yes.

“10. Is it progressive? Yes, Lawrence is a live town.”

The dinner and discussion was held 81 years ago, and the 10 questions about why a person should live in Lawrence are as applicable today as they were then.

A big question is how accurate the answers to the 10 questions were 81 years ago. Were they an almost knee-jerk, automatic response based on community spirit and pride, along with a good dose of boosterism? Did the answers reflect an honest appraisal of the status of Lawrence 81 years ago?

If the same 10 questions were asked today, what would the answers be?

Assuming the answers, on a whole, were 70, 80 or 90 percent accurate in reflecting the status of the community, and if the same questions were answered with the same accuracy today, is there any way of knowing whether Lawrence is in a better competitive position now than it was in 1926? Has Lawrence gotten better, stayed the same or slipped in excellence?

The other part of the dinner program featured comments by five leading residents who talked about “Lawrence Today and Yesterday,” “Lawrence As I See It After Twenty-five Years,” “Lawrence, the Home of KU,” “Lawrence, the City of Opportunity” and “Lawrence: Why I Chose it for My Home.”

Based on the program, it should have been an extremely interesting evening, particularly if those attending the event were honest and objective in their assessments.

After 81 years, it would seem reasonable to ask the same questions about Lawrence today. How does it measure up in the eyes of both long-time and newer residents? How well does it compete with other cities in the area such as Topeka, Olathe, Leavenworth, Wichita and some of the greater Kansas City communities, such as Overland Park, Independence and Prairie Village?

Not long ago, Lawrence Chamber of Commerce officials put together a mission statement titled the “Lawrence Community Vision.” This “vision” is “To be a vibrant and economically healthy community that satisfies the most important needs and desires of our citizens and is recognized as one of the finest university cities in which to live and work.”

Following the vision statement, the Chamber position paper adds: “Achieving this vision will require that Lawrence excel in three critical interdependent dimensions: 1) Distinctive spirit and atmosphere; 2) Superior amenities; and 3) Robust and sustainable economics.”

A broad range of challenging tasks are listed under each of the three major goals. If Lawrence residents could reach an 80 percent success record in achieving these goals and tasks, they would, indeed, have every right to be proud of their city.

Few, if any, current Lawrence residents have firsthand knowledge of what Lawrence was like in 1926 and just how good the city was in those days, how well it measured up to its opportunities and potential and how it compared to other nearby communities.

Could current residents make an honest, unbiased assessment of today’s Lawrence? How well is it taking advantage of its opportunities? How well does it compare with other regional cities or similar university cities throughout the country related to the 10 questions local leaders asked in 1926?

Maybe it’s time for another “Why Live in Lawrence” gathering to encourage residents to do what they can to make Lawrence an even finer community, in all respects, in the years ahead.