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11/21/2003 Archived Entry: "SCOTT ALLEGRUCCI"

SCOTT ALLEGRUCCI

For a young man who has not spent many of his adult years in Kansas, Scott has the heart of a native Kansan. You can sense it.

Scott leads the Travel and Tourism Development Division within the Kansas Department of Commerce and Housing and has only been on the job a few short months. He is good! Very good and I think he will be capable of producing results even though his past experiences have never been in government. He's a bright young man. The Gov. made a good choice in appointing him.

He spoke today at the annual meeting of the Amazing 100 Miles held at the Rolling Hills Zoo. The content of what he said was insightful to our needs in rural Kansas and he understands that economic development IS tourism. He spoke like a veteran. He is a native Kansan.

He has a fast delivery, as I prefer, and is direct, organized, very informative, cohesive...and I like the flow of his words. He was definitely on target, especially for not being on the job any longer than he has been. I was impressed.

Several of us wanted to meet him after the meeting, but three women on the Amazing board surrounded him the entire time and let no one near him. He has his back to the wall and they closed in on him on the front and sides. I don't know what that was all about but I found it weird and disappointing. If they hadn't been hanging on him, and instead were facing the other way scanning the crowd, I would have thought the Secret Service was on duty.

The new conference center at the zoo is a wonderful place to have a meeting. The accommodations couldn't be any nicer. It was a pleasure to be there. Bob Brown conducted a tour of the museum afterwards but I could only stay for a small part of it as my passenger had a tab to get out. There is always so much to do. That museum of Charlie Walker's is going to be a show place beyond belief. Bob Brown and his staff are doing a remarkable job developing it. I'm proud to be member #42 of the zoo.

And I did very well with my diet. I surprised me. They had Salisbury steak, huge baked potatoes, steamed broccoli, zucchini, cauliflower and carrots, salad, homemade dinner rolls and elegant cheese cake, tea, coffee and Smoky Hills wine. I limited myself to the salad, meat and veggies...and a small glass of dry red wine. I feel pretty smug right now to have done that well. I'm only beginning, but I have to do it. I have no options here.

Brit has laid wood in both the fireplaces in preparation for the front that is supposed to arrive this weekend. The geese were on a rampage heading south a few days ago so I suppose the forecasters are right. It's about time for us to experience some Kansas winter.