March 2011

TCCE Monthly Member Update

Your source for up to the minute news and information for Texas Chambers!

May you never forget what is worth remembering, or remember what is worth forgetting.– An Irish Blessing
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Save The Date:

• TCCE Spring Board Meeting (phone in) – March 24 2011
• U.S. Chamber Summer Institute scholarship application deadline – April 22, 2011
• TCCE Annual Conference scholarship application deadline – May 31, 2011
• TCCE Summer Board Meeting – June 25, 2011
• TCCE Annual Conference – June 26 - 28, 2011
• TCCE Chamber Basics – August 25, 2011
• TCCE Fall Board Meeting – October 13, 2011
• TCCE Volunteer Conference – October 14, 2011

TCCE 2011 Scholarship Opportunities ,
Each year, TCCE raises money through its live and silent auctions in order to provide scholarships to chamber professionals across the state to attend training sessions at the state and national levels. If your professional training budget is feeling a strain this year – apply for a scholarship to the program of your choice! (Click here for 2011 scholarship summary & application).

Guest Article: “The wintry mix of our fiscal discontent” Message from Bruce Partain, IOM. President, Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce

The New Year’s plan was to go from Texas to California to show off the new baby to my parents. Dan was only nine weeks old. (Click here for the entire message)

Want to submit an article for a future publication? – email us at psnodgrass@txbiz.org. Share your knowledge with your fellow chamber execs!

TCCE 2011 Sponsorship Opportunities
Be Seen, Be Noticed, Be Heard. TCCE sponsorship opportunities give your organization or community a place to stand out from the rest (Click here for 2011 sponsorship summary).

TAB Legislative Breakfasts
Planning your community’s visit to Austin during the spring 2011 Legislative Session?  Consider adding a TAB Legislative Breakfast to your agenda. A few dates are still available!
Visiting the Austin area this spring? Add a TAB breakfast to your itinerary. Tickets may be purchased to attend one or all of these informational events. (Click here for more information).

Register now for the TCCE Annual Conference!
The June 2011 conference will be the best attended TCCE event of the year. Come meet with your peers in the industry, learn from experts in their fields, get renewed and refreshed for the challenging days ahead. Location: Four Season Hotel and Resort, Las Colinas. Sponsorship opportunities, and a limited number of vendor booths are available as well. (Click here for more on the conference)

Submit your community’s bid for the TCCE 2013 Annual Conference!
We invite all TCCE member chambers to submit their bids to host the TCCE Annual Conference in June 2013. This is a great opportunity to showcase your community. (Click here for bid info)

TCCE’s China Discovery Program has an exciting announcement! Asia Getaway and Chamber Explorations, two TCCE members, have joined forces in Texas to put together an even bigger and better China Discovery Program for TCCE members. Please welcome the TCCE China Discovery Program representatives when they call on your community to schedule a visit. This program is a great value for your members and a fantastic fundraiser for your chamber. (Click here to go to the Asia Getaway website for more information).

MyTown MyJob MyVoice Help preserve American manufacturing jobs and present balanced messages about our energy future. The future of U.S. oil-related industries – and the businesses, employees and communities that they support – is being threatened. Learn more about this initiative by going to their website at: www.mytownmyjobmyvoice.org. You can also follow them on Facebook! For more information, contact Jim Rich, President of the Greater Beaumont Chamber of Commerce at jimrich@bmtcoc.org or call him at 409-838-6581. Thanks for your efforts, Jim.

Welcome to our new TCCE Vendor Members – remember to Shop Members First!

• Hubvine, Contact: Matthew Parente, www.hubvine.com
• Apps4Org , Contact : Kingsley Daniel, www.apps4org.com
• Techsoft Computer Training, Contact: Anthony Mosely, www.techsofttraining.com
• Texas Best Chambers, Contact: Michele Schalin, www.texasbestchambers.com
• Frost Insurance, Contact: Jack Joyce, www.frostinsurance.com

Are you ready for a more robust grassroots advocacy program? Get one-on-one help creating a plan for your chamber! The Texas Prosperity Project partners with TCCE members to introduce advocacy to their chambers. The Texas Prosperity Project has also released its 2011 Outline for Texas Prosperity and Legislative Focus. Click here to view the document, or visit www.txprosperity.com and select “Legislative Focus” from the left navigation bar. If you would like a printable copy of this document, or more information on bringing the Texas Prosperity Project to your community, please contact Stephanie Simpson at Stephanie@txprosperityproject.com.

TCCE Publications Is it time for your annual salary review? Are you training new board members? Do you need a new promotional brochure for your Chamber’s sales team? TCCE offers several helpful publications to educate you, your Board of Directors and your volunteers. (Click here for TCCE Publications Order Form )

TCCE TRANSITIONS Our congratulations go out to each of you on your new positions – let us know how we can help you!

• Salado Chamber of Commerce, Ms. Nicole Stairs, President
• Gunter Area Chamber of Commerce, Ms. Lindsey Santee, President
• San Marcos Chamber of Commerce, Brian Bondy, President
• Henrietta/Clay County Chamber of Commerce, Betty Ellsworth
• Mineral Wells Area Chamber of Commerce, Michelle Jorjorian, Tourism Sales and Marketing Manager
• Mineral Wells Area Chamber of Commerce, Susan Boyd, Office Manager

New job? Been promoted? Send your info to psnodgrass@txbiz.org

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