Team INNovations Request
Presented to Panhandle City Council 2/27/14
Speakers: Sr. Katlynn Freeman, Jr. Tanner Richardson, and Fr. Cobi Pace. Handouts: Fr. Addi Albracht. Filming: Freshmen Cade Throgmorton Colby Neeley and Addi Albracht. City Council unanimously passed the request.
Tanner
Panhandle has a historical treasure and along with our treasure…we have a hero. The Panhandle Inn and Ernest O. Thompson both played significant roles in the history of our community. Both are recognized as special and deserving of documented remembrance within the state of Texas as well as our country. One is immortalized as a legendary part of the epochal story of our great nation.
Because of the Panhandle Inn’s prominence as a National Historic Place and because of Ernest O. Thompson’s legacy as having contributed more than any other man to petroleum and the oil and gas industry, and because of Thompson’s legacy as being our nation’s greatest hero of influence over the economic welfare of our great country-We have an obligation as citizens to see that the stories of the Panhandle Inn and our country’s hero are not forgotten but instead shared from within the Inn for future generations.
Good evening guests, council members, and Mayor Looten. I’m Tanner Richardson the acting high school liaison for the Panhandle Inn Foundation. With me tonight are members of Team INNovation:Katlyn Freeman- Public RelationsAddi Albracht-Visual Graphics/ CommunicationsColby Neely, Colbi Pace and Cade Throgmorton-Web site maintenance/Video ProductionNot with us is Kendra Reining-Public Relations/Communications Specialist. She is competing at the Regional Powerlifting completion.
Team INNovation’s Mission is: “To develop and implement a strategic marketing plan to secure $4 million from within the oil industry”. Tonight we are specifically here to request from the City of Panhandle a written commitment. A written statement that states once funds for the renovation are obtained, the City of Panhandle will negotiate with the Panhandle Inn Foundation the occupancy of Panhandle’s City Hall within the renovated Panhandle Inn.
Cobi
About Team INNovation-The Panhandle Inn Foundation saw an opportunity to create engaging opportunities for youth to have a voice in the Foundation’s work. Team INNovation was formed. We meet 2 times weekly during non-instruction time. Mrs. Young collaborates with us. The Panhandle Inn Foundation Board supports our desire to make our mark on Panhandle and ultimately, the world. With our voice and leadership we hope to generate authenticity and strengthen the mission and goals of the Panhandle Inn Foundation.
Katlynn
A recent study shows that civically-engaged college students view their most transformative service experiences to be those that pushed them beyond their comfort-zones during their teen years. (This is an example.) The study goes on to reveal; Through meaningful service opportunities, not only did they develop the capacity to become engaged citizens, but they also developed the emotional, social, and intellectual skills that enabled them to be leaders and innovators in the 21st century careers of their choices.
Cobi
As members of Team INNovation we have been given the opportunity to be drivers of our own ideas from conceptualization to implementation to reflection. As ambassadors for the Panhandle Inn Foundation we have been given a unique opportunity to leave our mark on Panhandle in a way that no students before us have.In a recent conversation between the Mary E. Bivins Foundation and the Panhandle Inn Foundation, the Bivins Foundation commended the Panhandle Inn Foundation on their innovative approach to the renovation of the Panhandle Inn as a historical adaptive reuse project. Among the key elements were proof of diverse collaboration and the proof of sustainability upon the commitment of the City of Panhandle’s occupancy.As the Panhandle Inn Foundation prepares for spring grant submission, and Team INNovation prepares our marketing plan, the procurement of the city’s written commitment to negotiate with the Panhandle Inn foundation for their occupancy within the renovated Panhandle Inn is of upmost importance.
Katlynn
Currently the City of Kingsville has committed to occupy the H. M. King High School upon the completion of its complete renovation. The City of Canyon entered negotiations with Randall County concerning the city’s relocation of offices to the restored Randall County Courthouse. We know that the city has a wonderful lease arrangement with the railroad and along with this lease the city insures the maintenance of our nationally historic Santa Fe depot. The Panhandle Inn Foundation will work to insure that the city’s occupancy within the Panhandle Inn is at no burden to the citizens of Panhandle.Most importantly, tonight we just need your decision to produce a letter of commitment to work with the Panhandle Inn to reach a lease agreement for the city’s offices to be located within the Panhandle Inn. The Panhandle Inn Foundation is finalizing grants for March 23rd submission totally over $800,000 and we are preparing our appeal for funds from the oil companies, we need this documentation to complete our requests.
Cobi
The Panhandle Inn will be saved.
Katlynn
The Panhandle Inn will be renovated.
Tanner
The Panhandle Inn Foundation will make every effort to meet the needs of the City of Panhandle to reach the agreement for the city hall to be located within the Panhandle Inn.We respectfully ask for your favor for our request.
Thank you.