The Week Ahead:
Monday:
11:30 am – LNB Alumni Fundraising
6:00 pm – City Council
Tuesday:
7:30 am – Past Chairs of the Board Breakfast
11:30 am – Ribbon Cutting Meineke Car Care Center
5:30 pm – Airman of the Quarter Reception
Wednesday:
11:15 am – NB Business University Seminar
12:30pm – "Inside the Chamber" Radio Show
4:30 pm – Ribbon Cutting Lisa on Location:
Thursday:
5:30 pm – After Hours Mixer
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Helpful Links:
Member-To-Member Discount
NB FEATURED IN NEXT TEXAS HIGHWAYS
The upcoming March 2010 issue of Texas Highways magazine, the travel magazine of Texas, features a six-page story on New Braunfels. Coverage like this does not just happen and is a credit to our Convention and Visitors Bureau via working with travel writers on a regular basis. For example, this story was “pitched” over two years ago. A travel writer from Germany was in the community last Monday and our CVB staff spent the day with him. Attractions and businesses mentioned in the Texas Highways article include the Prince Solms Inn, Myron’s Prime Steak House, Henne Hardware, the New Braunfels Railroad Museum, The Sophienburg Archives and Museum of History, Huisache Grill, Dry Comal Creek Vineyards, Natural Bridge Wildlife Ranch, Natural Bridge Caverns, the Gristmill River Restaurant & Bar, Gruene Hall, Naegelin’s Bakery, Landa Falls, and Conservation Plaza.
TEXAS TOURISM FACTS: DID YOU KNOW?
At last week’s Texas Travel Industry’s Unity Dinner in Austin, state tourism and elected officials got an update on the economics of tourism. Did you know that 194 million domestic visitors traveled to and within Texas in 2008? Did you know that total direct travel spending in Texas for 2008 reached $60.6 billion? Did you know that travel spending directly supported 544,400 jobs with earnings of $16.8 billion? Did you know that in fiscal year 2009, the amount of state taxes generated from spending by domestic non-Texan leisure travelers to Texas returned $7.35 for each dollar budgeted for tourism promotion? Go to www.travel.state.tx.us to see the leisure visitor share by metropolitan statistical area as well as top attractions in Texas.
SPEAK OUT FOR TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENTS
Chamber members should have received an electronic survey last week sponsored by the Alamo Area Council of Governments regarding transportation options in our community. Please take a few minutes and fill out the survey online. Once the survey is tabulated the timeline indicates the routes to go live by August 2010. Bus stops, site shelters, outreach materials, meetings with stakeholders and community leaders, the recruitment of drivers, presentations to local governments, and the distribution of outreach materials will have to be completed before the routes go live in August. Stay tuned.
LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE TO “ROAST” KUEMPEL
The 44th Texas Legislative Conference is set for March 18 – 19 in the Civic-Convention Center. On Friday, March 19, the half-day conference will wrap up with a noon luncheon "roasting” Conference Chair and State Representative Edmund Kuempel. “Roasters” include current Texas House Speaker Joe Straus, former Texas House Speakers Gib Lewis and Pete Laney, as well as former Texas House member Cliff Johnson. We expect a great turnout of Texas House Members to see their friend Edmund roasted! Tickets are available at www.txlegislativeconference.com . An electronic mailing on the conference and registration materials was sent to Chamber members last week.
EARLY VOTING CONTINUES
Early voting for the March 2 primary election continues this week. On Monday, Wednesday and Fridays the Comal County Courthouse is open for voters from 8:00 am – 4:30 pm. On Tuesday and Thursday, from 8:00 am to 7:00 pm. For voting and election information that includes where to vote, voting results, maps to voting places, and precinct data in Comal County, please visit http://www.co.comal.tx.us/VOT_GEN.htm .
Candidates are vying for office in the Democratic and Republican primaries on the county and state level. Vote!
TAKE A BITE OUT OF CRIME
The New Braunfels Comal County Crime Stoppers organization has quality signage available for your business or organization. The signs are free. Call Buddy Watson at 830-660-1218 for more information or go to their website at www.comalcrimestoppers.org . The signs are durable and made of aluminum, powder-coated on both sides for long lasting results and has two mounting holes. Help take a bit out of crime by spreading the word.
SEMINAR WEDNESDAY A “MUST DO”
Leading and managing the current generation of consumers and employers is a key strategy for all successful businesses in the 21st century. The Chamber’s NB Business University will present a seminar on this topic this Wednesday from 11:15 am to 1:00 pm. The Chamber has received advanced materials from the presenter and you don’t want to miss it! You can register online at www.nbcham.org . The seminar is sponsored by Hill Country Payroll, Inc. and Barnard-Donegan Insurance. Learn not only how to motivate Generation Y but how to market to them. Get specific information on the demographic transitions not only in Texas but also in the Comal County/New Braunfels area.
OUTER LOOP PROCESS CONTINUES
The 11th meeting of the New Braunfels Outer Loop Task Force was held last Monday at the Civic-Convention Center. More than thirty task force members and over forty interested citizens attended the meeting. The current task force is reviewing details from the 2007-2008 work performed by the consultant and TxDOT and is prioritizing recommendations into a formal addendum to be presented to all planning authorities for future planning purposes. The final meeting of the task force review is set for Saturday, March 6. For more information go to www.nbolstudy.com or email info@nbolstudy.com . You can call the consultant R J Rivera & Associates, Inc. at 866-704-1114.
SPEAK OUT ON STATE-FEDERAL ISSUES
The U. S. Chamber of Commerce is asking the business community to “speak out” by answering four questions at www.uschamber.com/speakout . The four questions include the number one way you think government can help create jobs, how Congress should proceed on healthcare, is another stimulus bill necessary to jump start the economy, and does the uncertain future of the estate tax and other Bush era tax cuts impact your business decisions. The Texas Association of Business will also be communicating with our local Chamber members on broad-based business issues. Our local Chamber has a new web page at www.nbacts4business.com to give interested Chamber members the opportunity to be updated on the latest news and to communicate with their elected officials. Speak out!
GET “CARDED” AT CHAMBER EVENTS
The new membership cards have been mailed to Chamber members for your use at Chamber business after hours mixers this year as well as to access the member to member discount program at area businesses. In addition, the business after hours mixer schedule for the year was included in the mailing as well as the Chamber magazine unveiled at the 91st annual banquet held January 29 in the Civic-Convention Center. Be sure and bring your card to Chamber mixers in 2010.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“There is no way to understand the real options involved in the future unless you become involved in creating them."
Robert Theobald, Bits and Pieces on Leadership, March 2010
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