Friends and Neighbors: Baliman plays the role of 'cheerleader' for the town that almost spells her name

Kim Baliman is called Kimball's biggest cheerleader by many, and it is one of the names she proudly wears.

"That's a big honor, so I will take it," Baliman said. "I don't know why I have such passion for Kimball, I think it is just who I am."

Born and raised in Kimball, Baliman said she cannot think of a better place to live, work and do business – or a better place to call home, than Kimball.

"We have good people, honest people," Baliman said. "We have great businesses, banks, hospital, schools and churches. Location? Oh my gosh! Can you think of a better place to be located, you are two and a half hours away from the city if you need a city fix. You are two and half hours from skiing if you need skiing."

"There is no doubt about it, I love this town!" she added. "This is my home. This will always be home. There is a lot of action in Kimball and I think people who are bored have to be out of their mind because there is so much to do in this little town if you choose to partake."

In addition to working full-time throughout adulthood, Baliman found many volunteer opportunities in her beloved hometown.

Previously a member of the city council, Baliman was also active in 4-H. Along with her husband, Todd, she was one of many leaders in the youth baseball program. Today, she remains busy with her church, as a Teammates mentor and board member, and also as a member of the Camp Grace board.

Baliman also teaches water aerobics each summer as well as volunteers through the Kimball Ambassadors, the youth advisory board, Forward Kimball Industries, the Downtown Improvement Committee, and most recently the All-Class Reunion.

"I think I probably started learning volunteerism from my mom and dad when the first 'Save the Lake' was done. My dad helped and my dad was never a volunteer person, my dad was never a go to town person. My dad was a farmer," Baliman said. "But then I saw the things my dad did, he wrote checks and bought things to support Bill Batterton and Larry Stahla. It was fun though. My mom and dad had fun doing it."

Baliman ran the Kimball-Banner County Chamber of Commerce in Kimball twice for a total of about 15 years and she said she continues to get occasional calls, emails and text messages.

"I enjoy that," Baliman said. "Somebody has to know what is going on in this town and I don't know as much as I used to because I'm kind of out of the loop, but I still try to help people. I guess that is what I like to do."

Baliman feels one of her strongest talents is talking with others, and she tries to always advocate for others.

"I guess to me, if you live in a community, part of your job as much as paying taxes and paying rent or mortgage, is to become involved and to be an educated, active citizen," she said. "You can't just take and take and take from a community, you have to give back."

Baliman would love to see more people become involved after work and on weekends, and she mentioned that locally both the Rotary and the Lions clubs would love new members with fresh ideas. She added that the youth soccer and baseball programs are worthy causes.

"You are missing the boat if you don't become involved in your community. Find somebody, something you can get behind and give a little bit of yourself back," Baliman said. "They are fun. Yeah, it takes some time, and sometimes you might have to be in an office in a group. But somebody has to step up to the plate."

Baliman is thrilled to see younger members of the community getting involved and taking leadership roles.

"I am certainly not old and I will never act as old as I am, because I feel young," Baliman said. "To me it vitalizes me or revitalizes me to become active and involved. But it just turns my heart over a million times when I see younger kids stepping up to the plate and becoming involved."

Involvement is one of her messages to younger citizens in Kimball as well as speaking to elected officials about the growth they want to affect.

"You need to build this for you guys, what you want. You need to shape this community to be what you want it to be, and don't be afraid to stand up," Baliman said. "Every wonderful success started with somebody's great idea that they weren't afraid to talk about. Be the squeaky wheel."

Besides joining existing civic organizations, Baliman suggests to find something to be passionate about and help make it happen, whether it is a dog park or a walking and bike trail.

"If you are going to do volunteer work, it needs to be something that excites you and burns a hole in your heart," Baliman said. "I wish I could afford to not work full-time so I could do more."

Baliman hopes that one or two past graduates move home, and she believes this summer's all-class reunion is a great opportunity to remind them of their amazing hometown.

"We have to do a better job as a community to roll out the red carpet. I don't think that because you come back home you are a failure. I do not think that. It is huge that your parents did a good job of teaching you the value of community," Baliman said. "We need to celebrate that fact! Hallelujah! We got one back."

Baliman said that the movement for the future is providing vital information electronically in the new, digital world.

"We still need the chamber, we still need that body, but we need a dynamic website that is very user-friendly," Baliman said. "That people can go to. And from that website they can find out about jobs, about daycares, church times. 'When does city council meet?', 'When can I get my driver's license?'"

Now is the time, Baliman said. The world today is instant and with a dynamic website to provide instant answers, the community also needs to provide instant opportunities.

"When those younger people step up and say they want to help, we need to enroll them right now, right here, this second. Because that is the world these kids live in. They can order a package from China and have it tomorrow if they want it."

Additionally, making accommodations is necessary and ensuring that the community an inviting place to be is important, Baliman said.

"We have to think outside of the box, we have to work around their hours and schedules, be a welcoming community, we have to value what they say, and we have to celebrate and support people for coming back home," Baliman said. "We have to pay a decent wage and provide housing - move in ready houses. And everybody needs to clean up their places. I will help them do it! There are ways to get help if people will just ask."

Baliman's personal dream for Kimball is to build a recreation center complete with an indoor pool in Kimball.

"I will get it done," Baliman said. "If anybody wants to write me a $10 million check, I will name it after them! Because we do need that and we do have the people to support it."

She named many she believes to be more worth of honor. Baliman calls these men and women her mentors.

"Ron Scott, George Haines, Jim and Karen Robinson, and Judy Brighton - those are some of the people that I have tried to follow. They left big shoes to fill, but I try." Baliman said. "I hope some day somebody will think that I was a mentor for them. That is what we should all aspire to be."

"I believe in family, hard work and giving back. Love me or hate me, this is who I am," she added. "I swear to God that it should be put on my tombstone that there is no better place to live, work, grow a family and own a business than Kimball, Nebraska."