Or, to use the mayor’s words: “Basehor has a population that is 2,200 going on 22,000.

“There is a lot of activity and growth going on here and we’re doing our best to keep ahead of it and deal with it.”

Three PRIDE evaluators listened as Basehor citizens explained various ways in which local groups have joined forces to make their community an even better place to live.

PRIDE has become an umbrella organization in Basehor, Pfannenstiel said.

“Often it’s the link between city government and volunteers in the community,” the mayor said.

Chuck Wilderson explained that citizens started Basehor’s first PRIDE group in 1994, planning to work together to improve the city’s main street.

It’s been a success from there, Wilderson said.

The secret for the success of Basehor PRIDE, he added, is diversity.

In 1996, the first senior citizen, or Gold PRIDE, organization in the state was founded.

And in 1997, members organized a Youth PRIDE.

Now, the newest group in town is the Baby PRIDE, geared for the city’s youngest members.

Volunteerism in Basehor has skyrocketed as these and other groups have banded together to work on projects.

“And volunteer efforts are the heart and soul of this community,” Wilderson said.

Bob Vervaeacke, president of the Basehor City Council and a member of the PRIDE committee, said the groups have prospered in part because they listen.

“Every idea is a good one, every idea is equally important and every idea gets written down,” Vervaeacke said.

Betsy Redieck, one of the newer members of PRIDE, moved to Basehor a year ago.

“I wanted to be involved in the community,” she said. To start, she helped plan the Fourth of July celebration last year.

“It’s nice to come into a community and to be welcomed in such a nice way,” she said.

By the time all the PRIDE and community members had finished telling the PRIDE evaluators about their many projects, the evaluators seemed impressed.

Or, as one of the evaluators said: “You’ve done it all you’re really to be complimented.”