Presidents Message
Observations for a new year! Let me begin with some milestones:
1) The Depot:
OPHS now occupies its beautiful new home in the Old Strang Depot at 8001Santa Fe Drive. We front the old Santa Fe Trail. Right on Time Square in Old Downtown OP. If you haven’t been in to visit, we invite you to do so. It is the culmination of a lot of work by a lot of volunteers and our Executive Director Brad Moore devoting enormous amounts of their personal time. It looks wonderful.
2) Celebrations:
The Depot has already hosted OP’s Sister City Delegation from Germany and
the David Wolfe collection of related exhibits for their enjoyment. We’ve hosted receptions for our members, for the City, for the Chamber from Frisco, Texas, and various other functions to show off the facilities.
3) Classroom History:
Brad Moore and Bruce McRoberts have inaugurated our collaboration with the Blue Valley and Shawnee Mission School Districts by presenting exciting historical presentations on local history in the elementary schools.
4) Strategic Planning:
Our Officers and Board are currently engaged in completing a Strategic Plan for 2026 fundraising. We have engaged Vicki Lilly, a noted fundraiser from major organizations in Overland Park, as a consultant to provide guidance in Donor
engagement and Grant Applications.
5) Newsletter:
Our newsletter will now go out electronically every quarter. This allows us to greatly expand content, to go to “all color!”, to expand from the old 8-page limit to 30+ pages. This allows for more information, history, and an easier to read format enlargeable on your screens at home. This also assures prompt delivery, not dependent on the mails.
6) Fundraising:
501c3 Charitable Corporations survive on raising the funds necessary to. support day to day operations and programming. The OPHS is no different. We must raise sufficient operating funds from Donors, Grants and our Membership to maintain operations. We are hitting the trail for Donors and Grantors. Contributions from Members
thru dues, donations, estate planning, charitable tax-deductible donations or otherwise, are of great benefit.
7) Programming:
The Board and Officers are considering various programming that the OPHS can offer to the community, its members and others. This programming will be focused on and devoted to local history, events and development of our City over the decades. I wish to extend a personal thank you to our Executive Director, Officers, Board of Directors and all our volunteers that have devoted their time, interests and talents to the OPHS this past year. I know the new year will be equally demanding. We have the team willing to tackle the significant opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. Here is a toast to a successful 2026 fundraising campaign and our new Depot.
Rod Richardson
President
Overland Park Historical Society
Observations for a new year! Let me begin with some milestones:
1) The Depot:
OPHS now occupies its beautiful new home in the Old Strang Depot at 8001Santa Fe Drive. We front the old Santa Fe Trail. Right on Time Square in Old Downtown OP. If you haven’t been in to visit, we invite you to do so. It is the culmination of a lot of work by a lot of volunteers and our Executive Director Brad Moore devoting enormous amounts of their personal time. It looks wonderful.
2) Celebrations:
The Depot has already hosted OP’s Sister City Delegation from Germany and
the David Wolfe collection of related exhibits for their enjoyment. We’ve hosted receptions for our members, for the City, for the Chamber from Frisco, Texas, and various other functions to show off the facilities.
3) Classroom History:
Brad Moore and Bruce McRoberts have inaugurated our collaboration with the Blue Valley and Shawnee Mission School Districts by presenting exciting historical presentations on local history in the elementary schools.
4) Strategic Planning:
Our Officers and Board are currently engaged in completing a Strategic Plan for 2026 fundraising. We have engaged Vicki Lilly, a noted fundraiser from major organizations in Overland Park, as a consultant to provide guidance in Donor
engagement and Grant Applications.
5) Newsletter:
Our newsletter will now go out electronically every quarter. This allows us to greatly expand content, to go to “all color!”, to expand from the old 8-page limit to 30+ pages. This allows for more information, history, and an easier to read format enlargeable on your screens at home. This also assures prompt delivery, not dependent on the mails.
6) Fundraising:
501c3 Charitable Corporations survive on raising the funds necessary to. support day to day operations and programming. The OPHS is no different. We must raise sufficient operating funds from Donors, Grants and our Membership to maintain operations. We are hitting the trail for Donors and Grantors. Contributions from Members
thru dues, donations, estate planning, charitable tax-deductible donations or otherwise, are of great benefit.
7) Programming:
The Board and Officers are considering various programming that the OPHS can offer to the community, its members and others. This programming will be focused on and devoted to local history, events and development of our City over the decades. I wish to extend a personal thank you to our Executive Director, Officers, Board of Directors and all our volunteers that have devoted their time, interests and talents to the OPHS this past year. I know the new year will be equally demanding. We have the team willing to tackle the significant opportunities and challenges that lie ahead. Here is a toast to a successful 2026 fundraising campaign and our new Depot.
Rod Richardson
President
Overland Park Historical Society