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Community Betterment | Convention & Visitors Bureau | Economic Development

Economic Indicators | Membership Services & Outreach | Public Policy

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RIVER ISSUES POLL BEGINS TODAY

The Chamber Board of Directors, at their September 19 regularly scheduled meeting, asked the Chamber staff to publish a Zoomerang poll on local river issues to Chamber members. The purpose of the poll is to see what you think about various issues regarding water recreation management and policies in the community. Water recreation is the brand of New Braunfels and your Chamber has for many years been an advocate for and has supported effective river management practices. The overall results will be shared with our members and the local media. Look for the Zoomerang poll in a separate email to you today.

SEMINAR TO FEATURE “THE FED”

The Chamber’s Business Advisory Committee will present Blake Hastings, Vice President in Charge of the San Antonio branch of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas at a seminar on Tuesday, November 1. The seminar will take place at T Bar M Resort and Conference Center from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm. Mr. Hastings is responsible for the banks’ activities in the Central and South Texas region promoting research and data from the Dallas Fed. Sponsorship tables are available. A registration broadcast email will be sent to members later this week. Call the Chamber at 830-625-2385 for more details.

ELECTION ISSUES FORUM SET

The Leadership New Braunfels Alumni Association will present an issues forum on Thursday, October 20 at the Landa Haus beginning at 11:45 am. The November 8 election includes a vote on whether or not to ban disposable containers on local rivers in the city limits as well as ten state constitutional amendments. Early voting begins October 24 through November 4. Representatives from both sides of the city issue and a representative from the Chamber’s Government Affairs Committee will be present at the forum. The LNB Alumni event sponsor is Thor Thornhill of HMT Engineering & Surveying. The forum is open to LNB alumni only.

REPRESENTATIVE MILLER TO ADDRESS CHAMBER COMMITTEE TOMORROW

The Chamber’s Transportation Committee will hold a meeting tomorrow morning beginning at 7:30 am in Honors Hall. The guest speaker will be our own State Representative Doug Miller. Representative Miller will be briefing the committee on the past legislative session as well as special session, plus work that is continuing during the off session year. In addition, the upcoming election on the state constitutional amendments will be discussed that are related to transportation. Attendees will hear updates on current projects in New Braunfels and Comal County from city, county and TXDOT engineers.

GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS SAYS SUPPORT PROPS 2 AND 4

The Chamber’s Government Affairs Committee met last Thursday and reviewed each of the ten propositions on the ballot for the November 8 election. The Texas Constitution has been amended multiple times over the years and this year Texas voters have the opportunity to consider ten more amendments. The Chamber’s Government Affairs Committee has recommended that the Chamber Board support Propositions 2 and 4. Chamber members are urged to study all ten propositions and vote November 8. Proposition 2 will allow for the issuance of additional general obligations bonds by the Texas Water Development Board which will increase water supplies and hopefully lower dependence on the Edwards Aquifer. Proposition 4 will allow Texas counties to issues bonds to aid in the development of underdeveloped areas similar to the authority that Texas cities have. The amendment does not provide authority for increasing ad valorem tax rates. Information on all ten constitutional amendments will be provided to Chamber members in a link soon.

LEGENDS EVENT WEEK AWAY

The 7th Living Legends of New Braunfels event is set for next Tuesday, October 11 in the Civic/Convention Center. E. E. “Bud” Dallmann and William “Bill” Schumann are the latest honorees. Tickets are available at the Chamber office by calling 625-2385. The event is sponsored by the Braunfels Foundation Trust, a 501c3 not-for-profit that owns the historic Hinman House, housing Communities in Schools of South Central Texas. Come help honor these “Living Legends!”

HERITAGE BROCHURE NOW ON LINE

The new Cultural Heritage project phase one is completed and the brochure is now available online. Bids for printing will go out in October. The brochure concentrates on NB’s early years, over ten cited sources, includes a directory of our local cultural heritage attractions, includes a timeline for our community’s first 30 years, has a detailed map with all the early trails, has extensive content with multiple lifestyle elements, was proofed by a stakeholder work group and had over 185 revisions and edits. To view the draft click on http://nbjumpin.com/culture/.

ECONOMIC PRACTITIONERS CELEBRATE 50 YEARS

The annual conference for the Texas Economic Development Council (TEDC) will be held in Ft. Worth this week. The TEDC will be celebrating 50 years of economic development work in Texas and the TEDC is the largest economic development professional’s organization in the United States. A past chairman’s reception will be held on Wednesday that will include local Chamber President Michael Meek as one of the honorees. Meek was TEDC State Chairman in 2006. Chamber Economic Development Director Rusty Brockman currently serves on the TEDC Executive Committee. The event includes three days of special sessions, workshops and keynote addresses by state government and business leaders.

LEADERSHIP 2012 OFF AND RUNNING

The first class session for Youth Leadership New Braunfels for 2012 is set for tomorrow. Wes Studdard of Bluebonnet Motors, Inc. and Clint Rutledge of Keller Williams Realty will lead the class throughout the day and Marty Lindley of The Lindley Company, LLC will coordinate an etiquette luncheon. Thirty-one 10th and 11th graders from New Braunfels and Canyon High Schools and New Braunfels Christian Academy make up the class.

The Adult Leadership Class of 2012 will be introduced at a Community Leaders Reception this Thursday between 6:00 and 7:00 pm at the Civic/Convention Center. Twenty-seven emerging leaders make up the class that will begin with an overnight retreat weekend October 8 – 9 at T-Bar-M Resort and Conference Center and a first class day on October 11 facilitated by Douglas Miller II of Miller and Miller Insurance Agency.