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Economic Indicators | Membership Services & Outreach | Public Policy

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LAST WEEK FOR ALL MEMBER POLL INPUT

The Chamber’s all-member poll based on the NB 2020 Initiatives is beginning its third and final week today. The purpose of the poll is to gather input from Chamber members on what they would like to see the Chamber prioritizing in its work for the following year. The short poll is confidential and should only take you a couple of minutes to complete. So far, priorities include supporting existing business expansion and local business startups, water infrastructure growth communication, and promoting more higher education opportunities. Let your voice be heard!

CVB’S CULTURAL HERITAGE VIDEOS UNVEILED TONIGHT

At this evening’s City Council meeting beginning at 6pm and aired on Time Warner Cable Channel 21, Chamber C&VB Director Judy Young will show City Council members and those in attendance as well as viewing at home two examples of the Cultural Heritage Video Project. The Cultural Heritage Project has been a major initiative of the C&VB since garnering Council approval last year. These short videos will be available on smart phones and utilized in the historic walking tours of the community. Tune in!

CITY COUNCIL CONVENES TODAY

New Braunfels City Council will convene at 6pm today and will tackle a lengthy agenda. Chamber President Michael Meek will present information on possible real estate acquisition for economic development projects and following a sixteen item Consent Agenda Council will take up a sixteen item Action Agenda that includes redistricting plans, annexation of approximately 99 acres off Engel Road and ten public hearings. Council has also posted a three item Executive Session that includes pending-contemplated litigation and settlement offers.

LEADERS FETED TOMORROW IN HONORS HALL

The annual Hall of Honor Luncheon will be held tomorrow at noon. Previous recipients of the Hall of Honor Award will be in attendance along with Chamber Chair of the Board Corey Hall and Chamber Communications and Personnel Director Phyllis Foerster. One item of business for Hall of Honorees is the election of a representative to the Braunfels Foundation Trust for a two year term. Former Chamber Chair of the Board and Blue Coater Robert Orr is completing his term of service to the Trust. Past Chamber Chair and Blue Coater Carroll “Udo” Hoffmann is being recommended to join the Trust Board.

LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE PLANNING CONTINUES WEDNESDAY

The Texas Legislative Conference Arrangements Committee will convene this Wednesday at 7:30am at Granzin’s BBQ. TLC Arrangements Chair Joe Guinn will preside at the meeting. Committee members will review plans for the 46th annual event set for March 22-23, 2012 in the Civic/Convention Center as well as an upcoming joint meeting with the Conference Advisory Committee November 9 in Austin. At that meeting a 2012 Texan of the Year will be selected as well as program topics for the conference. Major sponsors will also be reviewed at the meeting tomorrow.

STATE PROPOSITIONS SUBJECT OF THURSDAY MEETING

The Chamber’s Government Affairs Committee will convene this Thursday at 7:30am in Honors Hall. Government Affairs Chair Bob Gray will preside at the meeting. On tap is a review of the ten state constitutional amendments before voters November 8. Should the committee recommend the Chamber Board support or oppose any, those recommendations will be sent to the Chamber Board for their next meeting set for October 17. Government Affairs Committee representatives will also be present at the Leadership New Braunfels Alumni Association Issues Forum set for October 20 to review the amendments with LNB Alumni.

AN INTRO TO QR CODES

The September 2011 issue of US Chamber of Commerce magazine features an article on QR codes from Brian Miller, the Senior Manager of Production for the US Chamber of Commerce. Quick Response, or QR codes are the square coded graphics that you increasingly see in magazines, newspaper ads, direct mail, on billboards and on airport tickets. They serve as a gateway from your businesses printed marketing materials to your online presence and can provide valuable information about you and your audience according to Miller. Miller goes on to say that little cost is associated with using QR codes and he suggests utilizing mobile optimized landing pages to keep your viewer interested instead of traditional web pages. QR codes are instrumental in merging print and online worlds and if used correctly can help you better engage your current customers and attract new ones.

FM 306 PROJECT OUTLINED

Last week members of the New Braunfels Manufacturing Association met in Honors Hall and heard a report from TxDot Engineer Ben Engelhardt and Michelle Kopp, Project Managing Engineer on the FM 306 widening and overpass project. Bid letting will take place next August with completion of the project slated for 2015. Currently, TxDot is working to complete right of way purchases and coordinating timelines to get utilities moved so construction can begin.

COALITION TO RECEIVE WATER UPDATES

The Guadalupe Basin Coalition (GBC) meets this Friday in Seguin to hear updates from the past legislative session and current activities of the EARIP study. EARIP stands for the Edwards Aquifer Recovery Implementation Plan and the group will also hear reports from GBRA on current river flows and Canyon Lake levels as well as how the current drought status is comparing to droughts of record from the 1950’s.