To the editor:

Leadership Kansas has chosen Lawrence, Kansas, to be the starting point of its Leadership Kansas programs for the next three years. The organization’s annual meeting is April 16. Our vibrant community was selected over the usual tourism suspects of Wichita and Kansas City.

A diverse group of Leadership Kansas participants and alumni, from all 105 counties, will see that they should return to Lawrence for business meetings or a football weekend. We have plenty of amenities including a new hotel and plenty of meeting space. They also can see first-hand the economic linkage between KU research and Lawrence’s growing bioscience industry.

The Leadership Kansas alumni here in Lawrence, are getting incredible support from the community. For the next three years, we get a chance to warmly greet the new Leadership Kansas classes and leave a welcoming memory for them to carry through their summer. More importantly, Lawrence will be the measuring stick as they visit other communities across Kansas. I know they will find Lawrence residents to be as friendly and welcoming as Kansans living in Colby, Parsons, Wichita or Dodge City.

The Lawrence Leadership Kansas Alumni appreciate the opportunity to bring retail support to our main street and our community. The LK alumni here in Lawrence are striving to make sure that the three-year run is made permanent, which will provide Lawrence a great opportunity to sell itself to Kansas.