2007 Plan of Action
Priority issues for the Chamber in 2007 include developing updated growth policies and status reports for the community, enhancing the newest tourism assets (civic center, highway visitor center), develop water resource management awareness programs, develop entrepreneurship tools for existing and new businesses, and improving member services via upgraded facilities.
The Chair’s Portfolio:
Chair of the Board: Susan Granzin
Staff: Michael Meek
· Supervise the overall operation of the organization
· Serve as the presiding officer at the Executive Committee and Board of Directors meetings
· Immediate Supervision of the President; provide motivation and guidance to Chamber
officers, directors, and committees
· Oversee Chamber facilities upgrade/campaign with Board of Director committee
Chair of the Board Award:
· Current Chair of the Board, Immediate Past Chair and Chair-Elect select up to six recipients each year
· Given for outstanding voluntary service by an individual in a specific field of civic endeavor
Awards Committee
· Selects recipients of the Besserung and Hall of Honor Awards
· Selection Committee serves staggered terms for six years
· Member with longest tenure serves as Chair
· Chair of the Board appoints a new member each year
Economic Development Council
Vice Chair of the Board: Marian Benson
Executive Summary Goals
· Solidify role of Chamber with the EDF and NBIDC as well as clarifying
missions/roles of all three entities
· Market new Civic Center
· Support Wasserstrasse Project
· Assist new commercial and retail development to minimize “leakage”
· Increase growth in sales and room tax via comprehensive visitor promotion strategy
· Enhance usage of new highway visitor center
Chair: Mary Jane Nalley
Vice Chair: Cecil Eager
Staff: Judy Young
The Convention & Visitors Bureau Strategy & Steering Committee functions as the focus and direction for the Convention & Visitors Bureau. The committee has representation from every facet of the Visitor Industry. Strategy & Steering representation includes Parks & Recreation, accommodations, attractions/festivals, arts & cultural, restaurants, business leaders, historical, river outfitter, WORD, visitor counselor, and downtown. The Strategy & Steering committee evaluates progress and receives input from the visitor industry. This committee is also very involved in focusing all entities involved in the visitor industry toward the common goal of increasing overnight stays.
The Convention and Visitors Bureau General Committee will have the opportunity to participate in industry specific workshops that will promote or enable industry professionals to expand the market. The committee will receive reports, updates, and make suggestions to improve the overall CVB program.
· Maintain growth in room nights and sales tax in 2007 through visitation and group business, while protecting areas natural resources
· Provide sales and service for the new multi-use, expanded civic center to facilitate year round tourism. Committee participation in State Association markets to establish perception of new facility and booking opportunities with a new group coordinator
· Focus on building the intrastate family market through traditional media, electronic media, public relations, and direct mail
· Build on the package program and electronic media vehicles available for ease of booking for the visitor
· Utilize new fulfillment pieces created in 2006; including the New Braunfels Brochure with interpretive map, accommodations, restaurant, and calendar pieces
· Utilize new, comprehensive, professional production travel planner created in late 2006
· Enhance direct mail programs to include electronic databases
· Operate new Highway Visitor Center as one-stop shop and expand visitations
· Share use of “brand and tag line” throughout New Braunfels Visitor Industry and Community
· Build media buying power by initiation of a consortium media buy placed cooperatively through the CVB. Grow cost savings by having the production and media buy “in house” through the CVB staff
Chair: Nathan Manlove
Vice Chair:
Staff: Judy Young
· Electronic/Direct/Repeat Visitor databases and fulfillment pieces
· PDF library of all brochures
· New New Braunfels brochure
· New Travel Planner
· Electronic conversion of new planner
· New Direct Mail piece
Chair: Stuart Blythin
Vice Chair: Jean Marie Rich
Staff: Stacia Lara
· Participate in the Southwest Showcase Trade Show
· Travel and secure convention group business
· Continue partnership with Texas Approach representing New Braunfels at more than 20 trade
shows
· Continue partnership with Destination Texas representing New Braunfels at Group/Tour trade
shows
· Participate in the ABA Booth
Chair: Travis Wuest
Vice Chair: Heidi Aleman
Staff: Judy Young
· Host winter visitor reception
· Coordinate and Host Familiarization Tours for Press, Travel Agents, Travel Writers, Visitor Hospitality and Public Relations training for Visitor Industry, Visitor Counselors, City and County employees. Include a river behavior & litter control emphasis for all local participants
· Enhance and support the public relations campaign
· Develop three educational opportunities for the visitor industry
Chair Danny Scheel, County Judge
Staff: Judy Young
· The Task Force brings together stockholder groups that work on lake levels and releases and other river flow issues
Chair: Sherman Krause
Vice Chair: Kirk Kotylo
Staff: Judy Young
· Hold 38th Tournament with Seguin and San Marcos Chambers for 1,344 golfers
on seven courses in three counties
· Distribute Entry Gifts
· Encourage hotel packages and merchant incentives
· Sell Course Sponsorships
Community Betterment
Vice Chair of the Board: Larry Hammonds
· Increase awareness of Chamber services to members and non-members
· Become actively involved in the maturation of the Central Texas Technology Center
· Coordinate efforts in the application for and receipt of additional grant funding for Phase 2 of the CTTC
· Provide forum for retirees via RAP Council
· Support programs of Randolph Air Force Base
Continue to participate in awards program with Randolph Air Force Base by honoring outstanding Airmen with quarterly receptions and gifts from Chamber Businesses
· Promote the Leadership program, through the Leadership New Braunfels Alumni
Association, to ensure continued quality applicants
· Support parks and recreation improvements
Chair: Leigh Ann Dees
Vice Chair: Chris Douglas
Staff: Rusty Brockman
The Business Education Partnership Committee will be involved in linking businesses and schools through positive character development to encourage learning, and assist in successful career planning.
· Continue the PAC and TAC Programs for students and teachers and increase the
business participants
· Partner with business and school to enhance and promote curriculum by awareness of high academic standards
· Continue to increase business participation in the Shadow Program for 8th grade students
· Monitor school calendar and actively address early start of school issue
· Stay actively involved in the promotion of the Central Texas Technology Center
· Provide a forum for dialog with local education and state officials on State
· Facilitate formation of vocational educational workforce training committee to include NBMA, CTTC, ACCD, the ISD’s, Seguin Manufacturers, and the Seguin Chamber’s Education Committee
Chair: Gladys Bartling
Vice Chair: Nolan Dietert
This unique division of the Chamber (RAP – Retirees Are Progressive) consists of individuals who have retired, or are partially retired from their primary career, business or profession. This is an innovative program unique to this Chamber and provides an opportunity for retirees to continue contributing their expertise to economic and community development activities.
· Encourage RAP Council members to become knowledgeable of all community agencies and organizations that impact the quality of life and vigorously support activities, programs, projects and issues favoring sound economic development that improves the livability and prosperity of the community.
· Increase communication to the external market.
· Increase committee membership.
· Conduct monthly meetings with presentations on topics of interest to the members
Chair: Debbie Fitsko
Vice Chair: Cheryl Casteel
Staff: Rita Kaufmann Powell
· Graduate 15th class, increasing alumni membership to over 300
· Continue to review monthly class sessions in order to present the most up to date information available
· Select 16th class
Chair: Barron Casteel
Vice Chair: Rodney Fischer
Staff: Rita Kaufmann Powell
· Graduate 10th class
· Continue to offer monthly sessions that provide class members a better understanding of many segments of the community
· Select 11th class of 10th and 11th graders
Chair: Leah Gomez
Staff: Rita Kaufmann Powell
· Promote the Leadership program through Alumni Association to ensure continued quality applicants
· Plan regularly scheduled Alumni Association meetings to bring current community information to members and to encourage members to assume leadership positions
· The Alumni Association will continue sponsorship of Youth Leadership New Braunfels
Chair: Ben Wehman
Vice Chair: Sonya Chapa-Weber
Staff: Rita Kaufmann Powell
· Continue to participate in the awards program with Randolph Air Force Base by honoring outstanding Airmen with quarterly receptions and gifts from Chamber businesses
· Focus on increased participation among committee members to be involved in this long-standing committee that will celebrate its 39th year
· Acknowledge the economic impact on Comal County of over $40 million that the more than 1,600 military and civilian employees from RAFB provide
Member Services and Outreach
Past Chair of the Board: Bill Kotylo
Executive Summary Goals
· Increase member to member services
· Ensure membership needs are met through Chamber communication vehicles
· Enhance communication and services to members via newsletter, web site, “Operation Thank You”, e-mail, direct mail, and “mixers”
· Continue to develop communication strategy for external market via a non-member email database
· Continue to communicate to the local community via newsletter, radio show and civic club presentations
· Increase Chamber membership to 2,150 via membership drive in Spring
· Increase retention rate to 90 percent
· Increase awareness of Chambers’ website and advertising opportunities to members and external market
· Chamber Blue Coats will serve as official hosts for Chamber events while enhancing membership retention and recruitment
· Develop entrepreneurship toolkit for new and existing businesses with Board of Director Committee
· Produce the 19th annual Business Trade show, following the 2006 Show’s format, and expand the event by attracting larger attendance for both days and additional sponsorship opportunities
· Cooperate with the UTSA School of Business on continued weekly free counseling services and ways the SBDC can be expanded to further assist small business
· Continue NB Business University seminars
· Organize the annual Small Business Week celebration and seek new ways to increase interest in the event. Work with local media on publicity
Chair: Sally Singley
Vice Chair: Joe Castilleja
Staff: Rita Kaufmann Powell
· Observe Small Business Week
· Recognize and honor a local Small Business Person of the Year
· Review ways to increase the importance of small business in our community, especially during the designated week
Chair: Leah Gomez
Vice Chair: Sandy Kibby
Staff: Rita Kaufmann Powell
· Continue the free, weekly service offered through UTSA School of Business Small Business Development Center to both existing business owners and those considering starting a business
· Continue offering NB Business University seminars
· Review other ways to keep small business updated and informed on current topics
· Develop entrepreneurship toolkit with Board of Director Committee
Chair: Don Miller
Vice Chair: Heidi Aleman
Staff: Rita Kaufmann Powell
· Produce the 19th annual Business Trade Show
· Expand the Show by attracting larger attendance for both days
· Provide additional business sponsorship opportunities
Public Policy
Chair of the Board Elect: Brad Wuest
Executive Summary Goals
· Facilitate the 40th Texas Legislative Conference, set for March 23 – 24, 2006
· Advocate and communicate to the membership, community at large, and to appropriate government officials’ positions of the Chamber on key issues
· Promote improved roads and new roads in the immediate area
· Act as catalyst for protection of the Comal Springs; staff and lead the Guadalupe Basin Coalition
Texas Legislative Conference
Arrangements Committee Chair: Chuck Teeter
Advisory Committee Chair: Robert Howden
Program Director: Michael Meek
· Conduct 41st Annual Conference and Texan of the Year
Reception March 22 - 23, 2007 in New Braunfels Civic Center
· Topics include higher education funding, Trans Texas Corridor, and property tax
reform
· Co-sponsors are LCRA, CenterPoint Energy, United Healthcare, AT&T, Exxon-Mobil,
and Cemex
Government Affairs
Chair: David Welsch
Vice Chair: Sherman Krause
Staff: Michael Meek
· Update growth policies and report benchmark data to public at large on regular basis in cooperation with Board of Directors Committee
· Focus on issues impacting the area with local, state, and national governmental bodies
Vice Chair: Larry Alexander
Staff: Rusty Brockman
Maintain a leadership role as needs and priorities are presented to TXDOT at local meetings, district meetings, and commission hearings. The Chamber’s Transportation Committee will meet regularly and work with TXDOT and City and County officials in meeting the highway needs as presented to TXDOT.
Chair: David Davenport
Vice Chair: Tracy Crowther
Staff: Rita Kaufmann Powell
This committee has been a catalyst for projects that protect and enhance the valuable natural resources of New Braunfels and the Comal County area.
· Develop water resource management awareness in community in cooperation with Board of Director Committee
· Continue to be proactive in the protection of Comal Springs through local and state
policies and legislation
· Assist the Comal County Judge and Commissioners Court in the completion of flood control dams
· Work closely with GBRA and the Corps of Engineers as the Canyon Lake Reservoir, Dam and
Guadalupe River are maintained and managed
· Assist in management of air quality in Comal County and surrounding areas by being active with AACOG and the Air Quality Improvement Committee
· Continue working with City and County Staff on the ongoing maintenance of the Dry Comal Creek and continuation of cleaning out into County
· Active participant in the Guadalupe Basin Coalition