With one collective eye focused on the present and the other collective eye clearly fixed on the future, some members of the club, working quietly behind the scenes, have put their heads together and established The Olathe Ensor Foundation.
The foundation is a not-for-profit corporation registered with the Office of the Kansas Secretary of State - this occurred April 3 - and is eligible to accept financial contributions under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. As such, it exists "To preserve and maintain the historical and cultural documents and artifacts of the Ensor Park and Museum and to expand the exhibits, programs, and activities that relate to those documents and artifacts in order to: A. Inspire and enable young men and women to study and follow careers in science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics, and B. To honor Marshall H. Ensor and Loretta Ensor and to showcase to the public their principles and values and the contributions they made to their farm neighborhood, to the community of Olathe, to the citizens of the United States, and to radio amateurs around the world," quoting here from the Articles of Incorporation.
Moreover, the foundation is empowered "To acquire such property, real and personal, as may be necessary for carrying out the foregoing purposes; To conduct all activities related to or necessary for the conduct of the foregoing purposes; (and) To engage in any lawful act or activity for which not-for-profit corporations may be organized, or which not-for-profit corporations may be engaged in, under the Kansas General Corporation Code, as now in effect and as hereafter amended," again quoting from the Articles of Incorporation.
During a short meeting held the morning of April 8 at Perkins in Gardner, Joe Krout, KR0UT, was elected to be the President of the foundation's Board of Directors, Howard Cripe, N0AZ, the Vice President, Marty Peters, KE0PEZ, the Secretary, Tom Apalenek, WA2IVD, the Treasurer, and Rick Nichols the Chief Information Officer. Afterward, Joe said he was looking forward to "close communication and cooperation" between the foundation and the Santa Fe Trail Amateur Radio Club, the Johnson County Radio Amateurs Club, the Mo-Kan Regional Council of Amateur Radio Organizations, and the City of Olathe, which owns and operates Ensor Park and Museum.
Joe, Howard, Marty and Tom all were on hand for the first-ever meeting of the board.
More information pertaining to the foundation will be shared with the club as it becomes available.