SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING TODAY AT 5PM

The New Braunfels City Council will meet with the Chamber of Commerce C&VB as well as Ad Hoc River Committee at 5pm today at the Civic Convention Center meeting rooms prior to the regularly scheduled 6pm council meeting.  The C&VB Strategy and Steering Committee met last Thursday to work on a presentation to the council on their recommendations for a River Marketing- Education campaign for the next summer tourism season.  Social Norm Marketing is the recommended strategy that uses mass media approaches to correct normative misperceptions.  Both the drive in market and overnight market will be targeted, but with slightly different messages. The comprehensive program suggested includes outdoor, social media, text back, QR Codes, point of entry signs, disinteraction, and street teams for the drive in market in addition to public relations, websites, e-newsletters and updated water recreational brochure for the overnight market.  The tag line/slogan recommended by the committee is “Memories Aren’t Disposable”.

CHAMBER ANNUAL BANQUET IN 3 WEEKS

The Chamber of Commerce’s 93rd Annual Meeting and Banquet is set for January 27th in the Civic/Convention Center.  The event will be a sell-out, so now is the time to reserve your table and/or tickets.  Go to www.nbcham.org/banquet or call the Chamber offices at 830-625-2385.  The theme for the Banquet is “Business Leading the Way” and the evening begins with a social and networking hour from 6-7pm followed by dinner served at 7pm with a program beginning at 7:30pm.  An “after party” will take place immediately following the Banquet at approximately 9pm with entertainment and no charge for entry in the Civic/Convention Center Ballroom.  Business Leading the Way!

CHAMBER STAFF EVOLVING TO MEET MEMBER-COMMUNITY NEEDS

With the importance of information technology and electronic strategies increasing each day, the Chamber has named CVB director Judy Young to also serve as the project manager on the Chamber’s website revamp in 2012.  Young will also lead the electronic strategy efforts of the organization and will be assisted by Tyler Hoffmann.  Brittney Overstreet will be moved from Group and Guest Services in the front lobby to be the Administrative Assistant to the President as well as the economic development department.  Today is the first day on the job for Laura “Nikki” Barta as the Administrative Assistant to Membership and Personnel Director Phyllis Foerster.  Congratulations to these staffers in their additional and/or new roles at the organization.  These moves are an outcome from the Chamber Board planning retreat held last November.

CHAMBER COMMITTEE LEADERS GETTING “ORIENTED”

This Thursday, January 12, the Chamber of Commerce will hold two Chair/ Vice Chair Orientation Sessions for Chamber of Commerce Committee leaders in 2012.  One orientation will be held at 7:30 am and the other at 11:30 am in Honors Hall.  The purpose of these annual orientations for committee leaders is for them to become familiar with the Annual Plan of Action for the organization and how their committee can assist and play a major role in moving the Chamber and community forward. Chamber Chair of the Board Tobin Hoffmann will welcome attendees followed by a brief presentation by Chamber President Michael Meek.  Attendees will then break out into groups by the Chamber divisions to plan their meetings for the year. 

TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE REVIEWS NEW PLAN

Members of the Transportation Committee met last Thursday in Honors Hall and received a presentation from City Planning Director Shannon Mattingly on an update of a metropolitan planning organization for New Braunfels and Seguin as well as a City Staff recommended new transportation plan for this area.  A parkway concept is being proposed to replace most of the original Outer Loop plan in place on city documents since the 1960’s and updated over the last several years by two TXDOT citizen-led committees.  Mattingly indicated that City Council will be meeting on the proposed new plan in February with Mayor Pospisil indicating a possible workshop on February 13th.  A sub-committee of the Chamber’s Transportation Committee was created and will meet later this week to prepare recommendations for the Chamber Board on January 16th regarding the new plan.

VISITOR CENTER VOLUNTEERS APPRECIATED

An appreciation reception will be hosted this Thursday, January 12th for the Chamber Visitors Center Counselors. These individuals help staff the Highway Visitor Center located at the intersection of Interstate 35 and Seguin Ave.  They provide over 4,000 hours annually of service to the community.  Besides working at the Center these volunteers also assist the Chamber at special events.  Volunteers that qualify also participate in multiple tours annually to keep them “in the know” about the community and its attractions.  If you are interested in hosting a tour at your business or being a volunteer, contact Val Preusser at val@nbcham.org or call her at 830-625-7973. 

CONFERENCE TO PROVIDE NEW SCHOLARSHIP

At this years 46th Texas Legislative Conference, the Edmund Kuempel Public Service Scholarship will be awarded for the first time at the March 23rd half day conference.  The idea sprung from last November 9th meeting of the Conference Arrangements and Advisory Committee Members in Austin where they selected the 2012 Texan of the Year as well as program topics.  Kuempel was a long time member of the conference including serving as Chair in the two years preceding his passing.  Several committee members donated funds to create the $1,000 scholarship to be awarded to a high school student in the area that is interested in pursuing Government Studies and/or Public Service in the future.  New Braunfels and Canyon High School social studies students have been encouraged to attend the conference next March.

COMMUNITY LEADERS RECEIVE FIRST ECONOMIC BRIEFING OF YEAR

Last Friday afternoon, members of the Advisory team received their first briefing of 2012 from Chamber President Michael Meek.  The Advisory team is composed of the Mayor, City Manager, NBU CEO, County Auditor, Chair of the EDF and 4B Board President to receive regular briefings on economic development activities and projects.  These briefings are held on the first Friday of each month and usually include over two dozen different topics/projects for discussion in a one hour setting.  Members of the team then distribute a recap to their respective groups.  The briefings were an idea from then City Council member Kathleen Krueger and have been made a part of the professional services agreement between the Chamber and the 4B Board over the last seven years.

EDF PREPARES FOR ANNUAL MEETING

The Greater New Braunfels Economic Development Foundation, a 501c3 not for profit founded over seven years ago and now part of the BuildNB partnership, will hold their annual meeting February 14th at the McKenna Events Center.  The election of officers and directors for the year will take place along with the adoption of an annual budget.  An expert panel on transportation will be presented that will include representatives from the City, TXDOT and others.  Seating is limited and approximately 200 are expected to attend.  For table or ticket information, contact Holly Covington at 830-608-2817 or at holly@nbcham.org.

2012 CHAMBER CARDS AND “MIXER” DATES TO BE MAILED

The 2012 Chamber Membership cards along with the schedule for the 2012 Business After Hours Membership “Mixers” were mailed on Friday, January 6.  REMEMBER these cards are your tickets to the Chamber monthly “mixers” and you must present them to the Chamber staff for entrance.  There is also an online schedule as well for this years’ “mixers” and you can view this schedule by clicking on the “Mixer” Schedule in the Helpful Links section of this e-newsletter.

STAGE 1 WATERING RESTRICTIONS NOW IN EFFECT

New Braunfels returned to Stage 1 watering restrictions on Friday, December 30.  The cooler temperatures and a period of fairly regular rain showers have brought the aquifer level above the trigger level for Stage 2.  Adding to the recovery has been a marked decrease in water use by NBU customers.  NBU cautions that although the return to Stage 1 may allow an additional watering day, the entire region remains in an extreme drought situation and continued conservation is necessary.  All day notifications are available at the NBU Information Line at 608-8925 or by visiting www.nbutexas.com.