The Week Ahead:
Monday:
11:30am - LNB Alumni Fund
6:00pm – City Council
Tuesday:
LNB Class Day
7:45am – CTTC Advisory Board
Wednesday:
12:30pm – "Inside the Chamber" Radio Show
4:30pm – Ribbon Cutting Alarm Automation
4:30pm – Ribbon Cutting Legacy Mutual Mortgage
5:15pm – Natural Resources
Thursday:
11:30am – Business Trade Show Steering Committee
1:30pm – Greenbelt Coalition
4:30pm – Ribbon Cutting A-Tan Asian Bistro & Sushi Bar
Friday:
10:00am – Guadalupe Basin Coalition
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GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE KICKS OFF YEAR
The Chamber’s Government Affairs Committee met last Thursday morning in Honors Hall to kick off their busy year. Chair Mark Hampton and Vice Chair Bob Gray presided at the meeting. The group divided into two subcommittees; local/state issues and national issues. The year’s calendar of meetings and functions were approved and the over thirty in attendance previewed the Chamber’s new dedicated Public Policy website www.nbacts4business.com . Subcommittees will be meeting in February in advance of a presentation to the Chamber Board of Directors in March.
NEWS FROM OUR SOLDIERS IN IRAQ
Lt. Sanders with our local National Guard Unit and his troops have communicated with the Chamber to let us know how they are doing. Lt. Sanders reports that all are healthy and safe and are able to call home regularly. The electronic communication was received by the Chamber in late January and Sanders reports that facilities include a PX, dining facility, coffee shop and barber shop. The troops also are able to attend weekly church services. If you would like to send a greeting to the troops via Lt. Sanders you can email him at christopher.sanders1@iraq.centcom.mil .
CITY COUNCIL CONVENES TODAY
The New Braunfels City Council will convene today beginning at 5:00 pm at 424 S. Castell Avenue in closed session and then will begin their regular open session at 6:00 pm. The open meeting can be viewed on Time Warner Cable Channel 21. The open session includes a consent agenda of five items as well as eleven individual items for consideration that includes possible approval of a first reading of an ordinance designating the spring fed pool and Landa Lake in Landa Park as historic landmarks. Council will also hold a public hearing and first reading of an ordinance to consider expanding the Sophienburg Hill Historic District by the addition of Magazine Avenue bounded by Coll and Jahn Streets.
CANDIDATES FORUM DRAWS A CROWD
The Leadership Alumni Association held a candidates forum last Thursday at the Landa Haus with over seventy in attendance. Twelve of the thirteen candidates in the county-wide election were present. Early voting begins February 16, next week. In other alumni news, the 14th annual fundraiser benefiting Leadership Programs will be held March 6 at Mission Valley Bowling Club. LNB alums are urged to register and participate. Members of the current class will be present and a raffle will be held along with food and drink. See you there, Alums!
NEW MAGAZINE/MEMBERSHIP CARDS IN THE MAIL
At the Chamber’s 91st annual banquet last Friday evening, a new magazine format was unveiled that included the 2009 Year in Review as well as the 2010 Plan of Action. For those of you not able to attend, this quality twenty-four page piece is being mailed to you along with your new membership card this week. The mailing will also include all the mixer dates for 2010 and the latest Member-to-Member discount listings. Look for it!
CHAMBER FORMS TRUANCY INITIATIVE
The Chamber’s Truancy Initiative, a subcommittee of the Business/Education Partnership (BEP) Committee, met February 5 to discuss the implementation of a reading lab as part of a students probation if they are habitually truant. Judge Charles Stephens is chairing this subcommittee. More than 20 people attended this meeting representing CIS, Juvenile Probation and Courts, School Districts, NBPD, Comal County Sheriff’s Department, Scholastic Reading, Chamber, and McKenna Foundation. Two other subcommittee’s were also formed to work to address the growing truancy problem in Comal County. One of those will focus on community and social issues and the other is directed at how the courts, probation, and law enforcement work together in handing this issue. The SCOOTER Store has donated 20 computer stations to be used in a reading lab set up to help students improve their reading skills. The BEP will hold their next meeting on Feb. 18 in Honors Hall at 7:30 am. For more information about the BEP and the Truancy Initiative contact Rusty Brockman at 625-2385.
ALTERNATIVE ENERGY TASK FORCE HEARS INPUT
The Chamber’s Compressed Natural Gas Study Group met on February 5 with 22 attendees. Local government entities provided feedback and what their needs are in the clean energy study. Steve Richardson of PSG will provide client contacts and previous deliverables showing successes with other cities, counties, and school districts. The Chamber will be the collection point for newly requested information that will be distributed to all members of the study group. At that time, the Chamber will arrange a meeting to discuss options and how the investment will benefit all entities involved. For more information about the Compressed Natural Gas Study contact Rusty Brockman at 625-2385.
NB BUSINESS UNIVERSITY PRESENTS NEXT SEMINAR
Learning how to Lead and Market Effectively to the Current Generation of Consumers and Employees (Generation Y) is the title for the next NB Business University seminar. The seminar will be held on Wednesday, February 24 in Honors Hall between 11:15 am and 1:00 pm. Learn how to motivate Generation Y. Learn how to market to them. Learn about the demographic transitions in Texas and specifically the Comal County/New Braunfels area. The seminar is sponsored by Hill Country Payroll and Barnard-Donegan Insurance. Register online at www.nbcham.org .
ECONOMIC ACTIVITY BRISK
As the nation continues in a recession, New Braunfels continues to have high prospect and lead activity. In a briefing to the Advisory Team last Friday morning, Chamber President Michael Meek reviewed over a dozen current leads and prospects with the team consisting of Mayor Bruce Boyer, City Manager Mike Morrison, NBU CEO Paula DiFonzo, County Auditor David Renkin, 4B Vice President Tim Zipp, and EDF Chairman Barry Williams. The private/public partnership between the City, EDF, and Chamber continues to create new wealth in the community.
CONFERENCE PROGRAM READY FOR DISTRIBUTION
The official conference brochure for the 44th annual Texas Legislative event will be distributed next week to thousands of potential attendees across the state. A record number of sponsors have signed on already and this is shaping up to be one of the largest attended events in memory. Go to www.txlegislativeconference.com for more information. Individual tickets are $55. The best value is the Associate Sponsorship that includes four tickets to both days at a 20% discount. The noon luncheon will feature a “roast” of the Conference Chair, Representative Edmund Kuempel, by current and former Texas House Speakers. Be there!
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“There is a time to let things happen and a time to make things happen."
Hugh Prather, Bits and Pieces on Leadership, February 2010
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