Serving You Issue 8-15

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HENRY HONORED FOR TOURISM EFFORTS
At today’s Chamber Board of Directors meeting, Gary Henry of Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resorts was honored with a Chair of the Board award in the field of tourism. No more than six individuals are chosen for this award each year and Henry is only the seventh recipient of this award in the field of tourism development since the award’s inception in 1966. Henry’s father, Bob Henry, was the second recipient in 1971. Gary Henry has over twenty-five years in waterpark design and management in the waterpark design and management industry and currently serves as president of seven privately held waterpark related businesses including Schlitterbahn Waterpark Resort here in New Braunfels. He is a graduate of the inaugural class of Leadership New Braunfels, a Chamber Board member from 1993 – 1995 and from 2000 – 2007, was a founding director of the Economic Development Foundation and his company continues to support many worthy community causes and projects such as Communities in Schools of South Central Texas and Comal County Habitat for Humanity.
A FEW SPACES REMAIN FOR WEDNESDAY’S SEMINAR
There is no need to travel out of town, spending your hard-earned dollars to get answers about non-profit fundraising. The Chamber’s Business Advisory Committee will present an NB Business University seminar Wednesday in Honors Hall from 11:30 am – 1:00 pm. Lunch is included. Registrants will hear attorney Kathy David of Oppenheimer Blend Harrison and Tate Inc. on “Raising Funds Without Raising Issues; A Guide to Texas State Laws That Affect Nonprofit Fundraising”. Register online at www.nbcham.org/seminar .
MAYOR’S HIGHER ED TASK FORCE BRIEFS BOARD
At today’s Chamber Board of Directors meeting, leaders from the Mayor’s Higher Education Task Force were the guest presenters. United Way Head Terry Robinson and CTTC Advisory Board Chair and NBU CEO Chair Paula DiFonzo updated Board members on efforts to improve higher education opportunities in the area. A presentation was made to City Council July 25 and the task force is awaiting feedback from the Council which is expected to come in late September. Recommendations from the Task Force include expanding the CTTC, working on a university center complex near the intersection of Hwy 46 and Loop 337, expanding higher ED opportunities in the Bulverde-Spring Branch area and continuing with the Task Force with meetings scheduled on a quarterly basis.
BUY TICKETS FOR TRADE SHOW
“New Braunfels Business is Rockin’ Around the Clock” is the theme for the Chamber’s 23rd Business Trade Show set for September 13 – 14 in the New Braunfels Civic/Convention Center. Tickets are on sale from committee members, at the Chamber office or online at www.nbtradeshow.com . Sneak Preview tickets will only be sold until September 2. To view exhibitors, confirm sponsors, the advertising fair, ticket purchase and general information, log onto www.nbtradeshow.com. Buy your tickets early!
TRUANCY INITIATIVE ON THE TABLE THURSDAY
The Chamber’s Business Education Partnership Committee will meet this Thursday at 7:30 am in Honors Hall. Aja Edwards Patino of D. Lee Edwards Realty, Inc. is this year’s Chair of the BEP and will preside at the meeting. Comal County Court at Law # 2 Charles A. Stephens, II will report to the committee on the current plans for the Truancy Initiative as this new program moves into its first school year. Stephens and many other volunteers have been working school officials, law enforcement and juvenile probation to address the problem in a timely manner and to provide resources to students and their families that might assist in eliminating attendance issues within families. The BEP Committee will also discuss the new Adopt-A-School Program being organized to work in four area elementary schools for the 2011 – 2012 school year. Back to School!
CEMEX LENDING PARKS HAND DURING DROUGHT
The New Braunfels City Parks Department is under the same watering schedule and rules as all NBU residential and commercial customers. As the drought worsens, the department was having a problem watering the new 150 trees planted through a grant program on local park land. The Cemex quarry stepped up to the plate and painted, licensed and put new tires on a watering truck at their expense to lend to the Parks Department. NBU worked with City Park staff to train them on how to fill the truck with re-use water from one of the NBU wastewater treatment plants. From there, Parks staff is able to fill smaller tanks as water is needed that can be transported to the sites of the new trees to keep them watered and thriving. Now that’s teamwork!
BUDGET WEEK AT CITY HALL
If it’s summertime, it is also must mean City budget hearings for the next fiscal year beginning October 1. Today at 4:00 pm Council will convene in workshop session to hear a presentation from City staff for their recommendations for the next fiscal year City budget. A notice was published of the proposed effective tax in yesterday’s New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung. Meetings will continue Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. The Wednesday meeting is set aside to retain a new City Attorney. The Chamber’s Convention and Visitors Bureau budget will be part of discussions on Tuesday with a workshop beginning at 3:00 pm.
SCHUMANN “LIVING LEGEND OF NEW BRAUNFELS”

W. L. “Bill” Schumann will be honored by the Braunfels Foundation Trust this October 11 in the Civic/Convention Center as a “Living Legend of New Braunfels”. Schumann’s life and career have centered around agriculture and horticulture. In 1968 he served on a committee that organized the first Comal County Jr. Livestock Show and Schumann also organized the Men’s Garden Club in New Braunfels. Schumann is well-known for his many years of columns in the New Braunfels Herald-Zeitung and on KGNB for “Gardening Around the House” with Ron Friesenhahn. Schumann and his wife Dolores work with the Texas A&M Forestry Service to identify the seventy-four different species growing in Landa Park and have been honored for that work with the naming of the arboretum in Landa Park after he and his wife. Tickets for the Living Legends Program go on sale September 1 at the Chamber office.

WORKFORCE BOARD CONVENES AT LIBRARY TODAY

The Workforce Solutions Alamo Board will hold their annual monthly meeting at the New Braunfels Public Library today beginning at 3:00 pm. The Board has offices throughout the San Antonio-New Braunfels MSA including one at the Courtyard Shopping Center. This federally-funded program touts solutions for business, job seekers, youth and child care. Their website www.workforcsolutionsalamo.org includes the latest employment data, hot jobs, targeted demand occupations, the Texas Back to Work Program, and more. The Board is the governing and leadership body for the regional workforce system, a network of workforce development service providers that brings employers and people together to prepare an educated and skilled workforce.

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The Week Ahead:

Monday:

4:00 pm – Youth LNB Selection Committee

5:30 pm – Baron/Baronesses Scholarship Committee

Tuesday:

7:30 am – Youth LNB Steering Committee

11:45 am – Military Affairs Committee

11:45 am – NBMA

4:30 pm – Ribbon Cutting at Indulge Nail Spa

Wednesday:

9:00 am – RAP Council

11:30 am – NB Business University

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

Thursday:

7:30 am – Business-Education Partnership Committee

12:00 pm – NewBraunfels.TV

2:00 pm - Business Trade Show Happy Hour Committee

5:30 pm – Business “After Hours” Mixer

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Ronald Reagan, 40th President of the United States