HOW CAN YOU HELP, you ask??? Get involved in YOUR community by joining one of the committees noted below. It's a great way of keeping abreast of what's happening in the Cy-Fair area and a chance to make others aware of you and your business. Sign up Now!
MAKE YOUR CHAMBER MEMBERSHIP WORK FOR YOU — JOIN A COMMITTEE
ADMINISTRATION
Budget and Finance: This committee is by appointment only and reviews the financial records of the Chamber and advises the Staff on financial issues. Chair: David McKinney, MH&S Accountants & Consultants (713) 435-7050.
Chamber
Herd: Members of the Chamber Herd pool funds to support the
Cy-Fair ISD FFA stuudents. Animals are purchased at the annual
auction in February and the meat is donated to local charities.
Trail Boss: John
Fox, Fox & Bubela, Inc.,
(713) 460-9709.
Membership Committee: The Membership Committee works to increase new membership. They hold an annual membership drive to support their efforts.
Special Projects: This task force will be used to handle special projects on an as needed basis - a good example would be the Freeport Exemption project or the Community College Initiative.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Crime Prevention: Promotes communication among membership on ways in which to operate in a safe and secure environment and coordinates with local law enforcement on matters that benefit the business climate. 3rd Wednesday, 8:30 am. Chair: Rob Smith, Sonitrol Corporation, (713) 683-6830.
Community Growth: identifies existing businesses within the chamber’s boundaries and determines business needs, coordinates discussions with business leaders in order to offer needed business retention assistance. They also work to develop a “pro-business” environment to attract new businesses to our area. Annually they sponsor an Economic Development Golf Tournament to showcase the Cy-Fair community. The committee also monitors infrastructure including electricity, gas, water, flood controls and utilities in the Cy-Fair area. 4 th Friday, 8:00 am. Chair: Greg Turner, Turner Partners Architecture LP, (281) 497-1040.
B.E.S.T. Committee (Business and Education Standing Together): Assists Cy-Fair ISD and Cy-Fair College in their programs relating to the community at large and serves as a liaison to both regarding the needs of the business community. 3rd Thursday, 8:00 am. Co-Chair: Rev. Justin Lindstrom, Saint Aidan's Episcopal Church, (281) 373-3203; Co-Chair: Claire Phillips, Lone Star College - Cy-Fair, (281) 290-3942.
Emergency Preparation: Works with medical, fire, police, educational and business Cy-Fair ISD representatives to coordinate our community’s responses to disasters. Last Wednesday of the first two month of each quarter, 11:30 am at Cypress Fairbanks Medical Center. Chair: Bobby Bluford, Cypress Fairbanks Medical Center Hospital, (281) 897-3689.
Governmental Affairs: Its mission is to develop and advocate positions on issues determined important to our community and membership and to communicate with the appropriate government and legislative offices. 1st Thursday, 9:15 am. Co-Chair: Reginald Lillie, Reginald Lillie Insurance Service, (281) 213-9663; Debbie Blackshear, Cy-Fair Federal Credit Union, (281) 890-7676.
Transportation: investigates current and future transportation issues and communicates those issues to the appropriate government offices in order to encourage and facilitate improvements of area transportation. This committee also provides an advocacy group representing the appropriate counties to promote the consideration of implementing passenger rail service along the existing Highway 290 railroad tracks currently owned and operated by Union Pacific. Service, in varying schedules, would be provided daily from downtown Houston to Cy-Fair and Hempstead/Prairie View and daily and/or weekly from downtown Houston to College Station . 1 st Thursday, 8:00 am.
Chair: W. R."Bill" Rowden, Apartment Home Search-Houston, (281) 890-3500.
MEMBERSHIP SERVICES
Ambassadors: This is the friendly, hard-working group whose duty is to greet visitors at all Chamber events, attend ribbon cuttings, and serve as the outreach arm to members by answering questions, and assisting members to feel at home in the Chamber. 2nd Thursday, 8:00 am. Chair: Co-Chair: Marla Regan, Organized Time, (281) 682-0127; Co-Chair: Paul Wickman, Oasis Outsourcing, (713) 787-0693.
B.I.G. (Businesses in Growth) Academy: Its mission is to assist owners of small businesses in the successful management of their companies as well as being a resource for small business education and training. It offers seminars and workshops to benefit small business. 4th Tuesday, 8:00 am. Co-Chair: Melissa Rotholz, Lone Star College - Cy-Fair, (281) 290-3942; Co-Chair: David Whitfield, Marketing & Business Dynamics, (713) 443-5774.
R.A.D. (Referrals Are Dynamic): This is a great group to help you generate warm leads for your business. They meet twice a month to help each other increase their business. First and third Tuesday of each month at 7:45 am. Co-Chair: Anna Marie Linkhart, Cypress Creek Personnel Services, Inc. (281) 893-1130, Co-Chair: Darlene Benz, Premier GMAC Real Estate, (281) 788-6216.
Orientation: This committee designs and implements a quarterly program for new and prospective Chamber members to inform them of the benefits of Chamber membership. 4th Wednesday, Quarterly.
SPECIAL EVENTS
Installation Banquet: Is held in January at one of our outstanding banquet halls. The committee helps plan and sell sponsorships, advertising and general admission tickets to our annual installation celebration.
Cy-Fair Federal Credit Union Spring Swing Golf Tournament: Is held in March at one of the outstanding local golf clubs and is a much-anticipated event each year. This is a great networking opportunity for your clients and friends to enjoy a beautiful day of golf. Co-Chair: Brenda Angelini, Adventure in Advertising/Angelini & Associates, (713) 937-6733; Leslie Martone , Cy-Fair Federal Credit Union, (281) 571-5072.
Sprint Presents Salute to Law Enforcement: This is an annual community event in the Cy-Fair area that brings 100+ agencies together to meet the public. The event benefits the HPD Storefront and law enforcement scholarships. Co-Chair: Chief Alan Bragg, Spring Independent School District, (281) 955-3001;Co-Chair April Jones, Cy-Fair Federal Credit Union, (281) 571-5071.
Cy-Fair Ten Pin Challenge Bowling Tournament: Is held in May at a local bowling alley and is a fun evening for bowlers of all skill levels!. Co-Chair: Lori Dickens, Dickens Delivery Service Inc., (281) 859-1172; Co-Chair: Linda Humphries, Allegiance Bank Texas, (281) 894-3252.
Houston Distributing Company Monte Carlo Night: This committee helps plan and sell sponsorships, advertising and general admission tickets to the event. Co-Chair: Elizabeth Zelenka, AmegyBank of Texas, (281) 320-1301; Co-Chair: Jim Fordice, Maid Brigade NW Houston, (281) 469-3939.
Business Expo: This is a great opportunity to showcase your business to the 600+ people in attendance. Co-Chair: Cathy Pennington, Sterling Bank, (281) 550-5000; Co-Chair: Kay Maignaud, Lone Star College System , (281) 260-3563.
Economic Development Golf Tournament: Is held in October at one of the outstanding local golf clubs and is a very popular event each year. A portion of the proceeds benefit the Adam Skinner Memorial Scholarship of the Cypress-Fairbanks Educational Foundation (CFEF). The CFEF has awarded over $2 million in scholarships to over 600 Cy-Fair ISD graduates in its 34-year history. Chair: Keith Grothaus, Caldwell Companies, (713) 690-0000.