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Community Betterment | Convention & Visitors Bureau | Economic Development

Economic Indicators | Membership Services & Outreach | Public Policy

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NEWBRAUNFELS.TV AWARD WINNING MEDIUM

Your Chamber is a recipient of the American Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) award for communications excellence (ACE). The Chamber’s NewBraunfels.TV entry received a Silver Award. Winners will be recognized at the annual ACCE convention August 4 in Los Angeles. The Chamber competed in the $1 million budget category and above with the Greater Phoenix Chamber taking the Gold in electronic communication. Your Chamber was honored along with the Nashville, Hampton Rhodes, Hilton Head Island, and Lynchburg Chambers of Commerce. Bronze awards went to the Lubbock, Tulsa and Greenbay Chambers. Kudos to AMMO Advertising and Tip Jar Productions for NewBraunfels.TV!

LOVETT HONORED FOR NATURAL RESOURCES WORK

Past Chamber Chair of the Board John Lovett received a Chair of the Board Award in the field of natural resources at today’s Chamber Board of Directors meeting. Lovett was elected to the Board of Directors of the Edwards Aquifer Authority in November 2008. He currently serves as the Board’s Treasurer and Chairman of the Administrative/Finance Committee. He has earned the respect of his fellow Board members and is known as a consensus builder and team player. Lovett’s influence with the EAA has been beneficial to Comal County and New Braunfels in water quality and impervious cover issues. Congratulations, John!

CHAMBER BESTOWS “ROYALTY” ON OUTGOING MAYOR

At today’s Chamber Board of Directors meeting, Mayor Bruce Boyer was surprised with a “City of a Prince” decree. Chamber Chair of the Board Corey Hall read the decree, adding Boyer to the royal corps of noble VIPs as a “City of a Prince”. Boyer was inducted into the Chamber’s Hall of Honor last year and is a past recipient of the Besserung Award. Boyer is also a Chamber Blue Coat and has recently been named to the Texas Legislative Conference Arrangements Committee for 2012. Congratulations, “Prince Bruce”!

Former mayor and Chamber Blue Coat Stoney Williams was also surprised with the Grandstander Award at today’s Chamber Board of Directors meeting. The award is normally bestowed at the annual Chamber Leaders Picnic, but Williams was unable to attend. Congratulations, Stoney!

SUMMER SEASON AROUND CORNER

A panel on the upcoming summer tourism season was presented at today’s Board of Directors meeting. Panelists included Nicole Celli of Gruene. Jeffrey Siebert of Schlitterbahn, Travis Wuest of Natural Bridge Caverns, and CVB Director Judy Young. Siebert showed an animation video of Schlitterbahn’s new additions, now under construction, Wuest gave an overview of attendance at Natural Bridge Caverns and prospects for the upcoming summer season, Celli provided a PowerPoint presentation on events taking place at the Gruene Historic District this summer, and Young provided an update on the cultural heritage project as well as talking points for water recreation this summer season.

CONSERVATION TIPS FROM NBU AND YOUR CHAMBER

The Chamber’s Natural Resources Committee is teaming up with NBU to bring conservation tips to the public. Responsible water management can results in real savings for NBU customers. NBU water rate blocks are in place to encourage conservation. Customers who minimize their water usage not only save on their water bill, but also see savings on their sewer bill which is based on the lowest three months of water use. NBU also has a number of rebates for customers who make water saving investments both inside and outside their homes. Complete information about these rebates is available the NBU website at www.nbutexas.com or by calling 830-608-8925.

LNB CLASS GRADUATES – TIME TO LEAD

Last Tuesday, twenty-eight members of the Leadership New Braunfels Class of 2011 graduated from the program. They join the LNB Alumni Association, which is now 450 strong. These LNB graduates and alums as well as all Chamber members are encouraged to “lead” in organizations throughout the community. A roster of opportunities on city boards and commissions has been updated as of March 22. These include the Airport Advisory Board, Building Standards Commission, CTTC Advisory Board, Heritage Commission, NBIDC, NBU, Parks and Recreation Advisory Board, Planning Commission, the TIRZ Board, the Transportation and Traffic Advisory Board, and the Zoning Board of Adjustments. Applications for appointment to these boards and commissions can be found on the city’s website at www.nbtexas.org.

MAKE HISTORY WITH LIVING LEGENDS

Nominations for the Living Legends Award are being accepted now through June 1. The program is sponsored by the Braunfels Foundation Trust. Nomination forms are available online on the Chamber’s Calendar Events Section or at the Chamber office. The theme for the October 11 event will be “History Makers”. 2011 Living Legends will be honored at a dinner and program at the New Braunfels Civic/Convention Center. Make history and nominate a future “Living Legend”!

WEAR YELLOW FRIDAY – SMALL BUSINESS WEEK

Small Business Week begins today through Friday. To honor local small businesses in our community, the Chamber encourages you to wear yellow this Friday. The Small Business Person of the year, Robin Jeffers of J&R Gymnastics , was honored with proclamations at City Council and Commissioners Court last week and will be further honored with a reception May 24. Sponsor for the reception is Randolph Brooks Federal Credit Union. Robin also appeared on the “Inside the Chamber” radio show with Chamber Chair of the Board Corey Hall and Chamber President Michael Meek last Wednesday. Podcasts of that program are available on the Chamber’s website as well as KGNB’s website.

COMMITTEE WORKS WITH TRUANCY, KITS FOR KIDS

The Chamber’s Business-Education Partnership (BEP) Committee, led by Aja Edwards of ERA D. Lee Edwards Realty, will hear an end-of-the-semester report from Judge and BEP Committee member Charles Stephens, about the Truancy Initiative and the weekly meetings he has held with students at Canyon Middle School. The Kits for Kids program, being chaired by Gretchen Pruett of the New Braunfels Public Library, is being reorganized to better meet the needs of the students and their families. Pruett and her new sub-committee members will report to the BEP on progress being made. There will also be reports on the final PAC/TAC distribution for 2010-11 school year. There have been more than 27,000 PAC’s issued and 2,000 TAC’s presented during the school year. Terry Robinson, Chair of the Mayor’s Higher Education Task Force, will be present to update the BEP on the status and plans being recommended by the Task Force. The annual Back-To-School Luncheon, sponsored by the BEP and Barnard Donegan Insurance, is set for Thursday, August 11, at 11:30 am at the Seekatz Opera House. This committee was instrumental in the founding of the Communities in Schools organization here in Comal County.