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Community Betterment | Convention & Visitors Bureau | Economic Development

Economic Indicators | Membership Services & Outreach | Public Policy

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LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES UPDATED
Your Chamber Board, via the work of the Government Affairs Committee, went into the 82nd Texas Legislative Session with twenty priorities in the areas of economic development, environmental, education and healthcare/legal. The regular session ended last Monday but legislators began a special session on Tuesday. At press time, continued funding of the Skills Development Fund is contained in SB 1811 while seven other Chamber priorities in economic development were already adopted. Comprehensive tort reform measures were also passed by the Legislature. Continued full funding of the Communities in Schools Program in Texas was another priority that remains on the chopping block with legislators. The Chamber’s Government Affairs Committee will convene June 23 and hopefully be able to quantify the results on all twenty priorities.

WALKER-BROCKMAN HONORED THURSDAY
The Guadalupe Blanco River Authority will host a reception this Thursday in Honors Hall to honor T. L. Walker for his years of service on the GBRA Board of Trustees. Walker served terms in the 1990’s and again from 2004 through 2010 when he was the Chairman of the Board. The reception will also welcome new GBRA Board member Rusty Brockman, the Chamber’s Economic Development Director, who is taking Walker’s place on the Board with a Governor’s appointment. Congratulations, T.L. and Rusty!

WANT PROFITS? CUSTOMER SERVICE REQUIRED
The Chamber’s NB Business University is presenting “The Essentials for Providing Premiere Customer Service” June 28 at the Civic/Convention Center. Renowned speaker and corporate trainer Kevin Karschnik with iSpeak will be available for two sessions that day, giving Chamber members and the public two options to receive this valuable training and information. The first session is from 8:30 to 11:30 am and the second session from 1:00 to 4:00 pm. Registration is available online at www.nbcham.org/seminar. Learn how to apply a process for responding to customer complaints and how to establish rapport and create good first impressions.

LNB CLASS OF 2012 SOUGHT
Applications are now available online at www.nbcham.org/lnb or at the Chamber offices located at 390 S. Seguin Avenue for the Leadership New Braunfels Class for 2012. The application deadline is August 12. The next class marks the 20th anniversary of the LNB Program that now counts 450 graduates. For criteria on the program and a YouTube video, log onto to www.nbchamn.org/lnb. Your can also call 830-625-2385 for more information. Time to lead!

NBU – CHAMBER PROVIDE INFO ON “STAGE 2”
Mayor Gale Pospisil has declared Stage 2 watering restrictions now in effect for NBU customers. The Edwards Aquifer level has dropped below 650 feet and forecasts continue to call for high temperatures and little or no rainfall in the foreseeable future. Watering for landscapes and lawns residentially or commercially have the following schedule: if your address ends 0 or 1 the watering day is Monday, if your address ends in 2 or 3 the watering day is Tuesday, if your address ends in 4 or 5 your watering day is Wednesday, if your address ends in 6 or 7, the watering day is Thursday, and if your address ends in 8 or 9 your watering day is Friday. The use of soaker hoses, hand-held hoses and drip irrigation is not allowed between 10:00 am and 8:00 pm. Log onto www.nbutexas.com or call 830-608-8925 for more details.

ROAD GURU TO ADDRESS TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE
TXDOT San Antonio Engineer Mario Medina will speak to the Chamber’s Transportation Committee tomorrow in Honors Hall. TXDOT Resident Engineer Ben Engelhardt will accompany Medina to update committee members on projects being worked currently as well as future ones. City Planning Director Shannon Mattingly will also be present and will speak on the creation of a new metropolitan planning organization (MPO) to serve New Braunfels, Comal County, Seguin and Guadalupe County. The MPO will strategize, plan, develop and implement transportation needs for the area. The next MPO meeting scheduled will be an open house on June 20 at the Civic/Convention Center at 6:00 pm.

BMW AND USA TODAY FEATURE NB
The May 2011 issue of Roundel, the BMW owners monthly magazine, features an article on “Deutsche Texana” and prominently features New Braunfels and Gruene in a six-page article with nine beautiful pictures of the Hill Country, many of them of New Braunfels and Gruene. Your Chamber’s C&VB worked with this travel writer over eighteen months ago on a hosted visit and it has now paid off. Third party credible articles such as this one are priceless and add to consumer confidence in visiting our destination.

The June 3 issue of USA Today included the Top 51 Great Scenic Drives in America. The only one mentioned in Texas? River Road! Another effort of the Chamber’s CVB!

CVB LANDS COVETED STATEWIDE PROMO
The Chamber’s CVB will be participating in the Texas Travel Industry Association’s Facebook Summer Getaways Cooperative Campaign. When the opportunity arose last week, in less than three working days artwork was developed, six sweepstakes packages were secured, valued at between $1,500 to $4,000 each for this promotion. The program will run from June 15 through August and the packages promote all the many diverse activities that a family can enjoy in this area. At least two of the packages feature fall/winter visitation and all of the artwork is centered around the cultural heritage campaign.

CENTER FOR STARTUPS WORKING WITH SBDC
The Center for Entrepreneurship, a 501(c)3 non-profit lead by Trevor Bird of Gruene Harley Davidson, is working with UTSA’s Small Business Development Center (SBDC) to open a downtown location October 1 to serve startup business in New Braunfels, Seguin and Schertz. A meeting of stakeholders met this past Thurday, timelines were reviewed and properties were reviewed. The Center Board welcomed new appointed members from all three funding economic development corporations and the twelve-member Board has two seats to fill. If you are interested in serving on this board, contact Chamber Economic Development Director Rusty Brockman at 830-608-2811.

Helpful Links:

Welcome New Members

“Mixer” Schedule

Calendar of Events

Member-To-Member Discounts

Ribbon Cuttings

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The Week Ahead:

Monday:

5:00 pm – Braunfels Foundation Trust

Tuesday:

7:30 am – Transportation Committee

Wednesday:

12:30 pm – 1:00 pm - "Inside the Chamber" Radio Show

Thursday:

12:00 pm – NewBraunfels.TV

4:30 pm – Ribbon Cutting at Comal Animal Clinic

5:00 pm – GBRA Reception for Brockman and Walker

Friday through Sunday:

ROI – San Antonio

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QUOTE OF THE WEEK

“The quickest way to make a red light turn green is to try to find something in the glove compartment.”

Gary Doney, Bits and Pieces, June 2011