02/29/2008
2nd Annual Cy-Fair Federal Credit Union Spring Swing Golf Tournament
The tournament will be held March 31 at Jersey Meadow Golf Course, 8502 Rio Grande .
The tournament kicks off with registration from 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. During that time participants can also take part in a putting contest and fuel up at lunch with Carl’s Bar-B-Q, for a day on the greens. Golfing gets underway at 11:30 a.m. with a scramble-shotgun start. Starting at 5:30 p.m., an awards dinner and auction wrap up the event.
As in years past, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Bear Creek, Cypress and Northwest Assistance Ministries.
The following companies will be in attendance. Underwriter Cy-Fair Federal Credit Union ; lunch provided by Carl’s-Bar-B-Q ; towel underwriter Towne Lake a Caldwell Company Community ; gold sponsors Bridgeland and Houston Community Newspapers/The SUN ; silver sponsor Texas Copperheads LLC ; bronze sponsors Alpine Field Services Inc., AmegyBank of Texas, CenterPoint Energy, Cy-Fair Lifestyles & Homes, Fox & Bubela Inc., Independence Bank, Lone Star College – Cy-Fair, Member Home Loan, Oasis Outsourcing and Weatherton-Cole Insurance Inc. Other sponsors AmegyBank of Texas, Brooks & Sparks Inc., Cathy Mehrmann, Circle D Transmission, Comfort Suites, Coors Brewing Company, Cypress Fairbanks Medical Center Hospital, Cy-Fair Rotary, Cypress Creek Lakes, e2 Property, Executive Inn & Suites, Exit Realty Group, Hooters – Northwest Freeway, Houston Aeros, Houston Coca-Cola Bottling Company, HTS Inc. Consultants, Jersey Meadow Golf Course, Keller – Williams Realty Greater Northwest – Joyce Berube, Lone Star College – Cy-Fair, Maid Brigade of NW Houston, Mancuso Harley – Davidson/Buell, Motel 6, Oasis Outsourcing, Propane Express, LLC, Saint Aidan’s Episcopal Church, Terracon Consultants Inc., Texas One Community Credit Union, TPRB Advertising, Wal-Mart/Cypress Rosehill, West Belt Surveying Inc. and Your Community Magazine.
For more information about sponsorship opportunities, tournament registration or auction items call Sherri Padalino at the Chamber at 281-955-1100 or sherri@cyfairchamber.com .
02/29/2008
Cy-Fair Houston Chamber of Commerce’s Partnership with Lone Star College- Cy-Fair is a Success
Always on the lookout for innovative ways to help members and local business owners get one step ahead, the Cy-Fair Chamber of Commerce’s Businesses In Growth (BIG) Academy has launched a program that offers a continuing education unit (CEU) for regular attendance at monthly meetings in 2008.
The BIG Academy’s regularly scheduled monthly training sessions are on the fourth Tuesday of each month through October 2008. The sessions begin with a breakfast and networking session from 7:30 a.m. – 8:00 a.m., followed by an hour-long training/question & answer session from 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
All training sessions will be held in the Cy-Fair Chamber’s meeting room at 11050 FM 1960 West, Suite 100 .
Those who attend at least seven out of the ten training sessions will receive a BIG Academy certificate that announces the completion of the training, which is equal to one continuing education credit. CEUs are recognized as a measure of professional education and training, according to Lone Star College – Cy-Fair’s web site (www.cy-faircollege.com).
“The whole idea behind the program, and BIG Academy, is to help businesses succeed and grow,” said Melissa Rotholz, co-chairman of the BIG Academy committee. ”We pick topics that relate to businesses in our community.”
Sessions will address sales and marketing strategies, goals, and planning for businesses.
She said the Chamber’s partnership with Lone Star College – Cy-Fair has proven to be a successful strategy in and of itself in the BIG Academy’s evolution. The Chamber is able to draw on the college’s resources, and vice versa, in providing training, information and resources for Cy-Fair business owners who are involved in the committee’s programs.
“This is a wonderful example of how strategic partnerships within our community can be formed to bring this type of benefit to chamber members and their employees,” said Erin Al-Salman Chamber president.
Information about future training sessions will be posted on the Chamber’s web site www.cyfairchamber.com and the college’s web site www.cy-faircollege.com .
“Our goal is to have a full house at each session,” Rotholz said. “They are open to the public.”
For more information about BIG Academy’s CEU training program, contact Melissa Rotholz at 832.482.1056 or melissa.l.rotholz@lonestar.edu ; or David Whitfield at 713-443-5774 or davewhitfield@comcast.net .
02/29/2008
Salute to Law Enforcement Renamed in Honor of Underwriter
The Cy-Fair Houston Chamber’s Salute to Law Enforcement is receiving a new moniker according to Chamber President Erin Al-Salman.
In honor of the underwriting commitment, the event will be called “Sprint Presents Salute to Law Enforcement”, Al-Salman announced today.
“We are grateful that Sprint has made the commitment to our event and our Chamber,” Al-Salman said.
The event will be held on Saturday, May 3 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Willowbrook Mall will be teaming up with more than 100 law enforcement agencies to host Sprint Presents Salute to Law Enforcement. The event is the largest known single law enforcement exhibition open to the public, attracting almost 50,000 visitors annually.
Sponsored by the Cy-Fair Houston Chamber of Commerce, Spring I.S.D., Willowbrook Mall, Cy-Fair Lifestyles & Homes and Sweet Tomatoes, the Salute offers citizens the opportunity to meet law enforcement representatives, tour vehicles and gather literature about safety. About 100 different agencies will be represented, with more than 200 officers and 90 or more indoor and outdoor exhibits.
The Salute begins at 11:00 a.m. with an opening ceremony that will include singing of “The Star Spangled Banner” and recitation of the names of local officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
Throughout the day, visitors will have the opportunity to meet law enforcement representatives and be able to:
- Tour emergency vehicles
- Climb aboard a helicopter
- Tour the Harris County Sheriff’s Department mobile command center
- Explore a CCEMS ambulance
- Meet officers on horseback
- See the drug-sniffing dogs
- See patrolling robots
- Receive handouts for the children
- Enjoy opening ceremony and on-stage demonstrations throughout the day and
- More exhibits inside and outside
Additionally, exhibits will have video presentations about a variety of subjects. Booths will provide opportunities for and information about child fingerprinting, auto ID, anti-theft devices and light/heat sensitive displays.
For more information about Sprint Presents Salute to Law Enforcement, visit www.salutetolawenforcement.org or www.cyfairchamber.com. Willowbrook Mall is located at FM1960 and Texas 249, for directions, visit www.shopwillowbrookmall.com or call 281.890.MALL.
02/21/2008
14 th Annual salute to law enforcement set for saturday, may 3 at Willowbrook mall
100 different agencies will be represented; 90 and more exhibits including annual car seat inspections
On Saturday, May 3 from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Willowbrook Mall will be teaming up with more than 100 law enforcement agencies to host the thirteenth annual Salute to Law Enforcement. The event is the largest known single law enforcement exhibition open to the public, attracting almost 50,000 visitors annually.
Sponsored by the Cy-Fair Houston Chamber of Commerce, Spring I.S.D., Willowbrook Mall, Cy-Fair Lifestyles & Homes and Sweet Tomatoes the Salute offers citizens the opportunity to meet law enforcement representatives, tour vehicles and gather literature about safety. About 100 different agencies will be represented, with more than 200 officers and 90 or more indoor and outdoor exhibits.
The Salute begins at 11:00 a.m. with an opening ceremony that will include singing of “The Star Spangled Banner” and recitation of the names of local officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty.
Throughout the day, visitors will have the opportunity to meet law enforcement representatives and be able to:
- Tour emergency vehicles
- Climb aboard a helicopter
- Tour the Harris County Sheriff’s Department mobile command center
- Explore a CCEMS ambulance
- Meet officers on horseback
- See the drug-sniffing dogs
- See patrolling robots
- Receive handouts for the children
- Enjoy opening ceremony and on-stage demonstrations throughout the day and
- More exhibits inside and outside
Additionally, exhibits will have video presentations about a variety of subjects. Booths will provide opportunities for and information about child fingerprinting, auto ID, anti-theft devices and light/heat sensitive displays.
For more information about the Salute to Law Enforcement, visit www.salutetolawenforcement.org or www.cyfairchamber.com. Willowbrook Mall is located at FM1960 and Texas 249, for directions, visit www.shopwillowbrookmall.com or call 281.890.MALL.
02/21/2008
Lone Star College System's Growth Equals Need for College Expansion Projects
The Lone Star College System’s board of trustees has not called a bond election, but an 80-member advisory committee has developed a $423 million bond proposal that includes priority projects with no property tax increase for district residents, said Lone Star College System Chancellor Richard Carpenter.
“We have grown by 24,000 students since our last bond election (in 2000) so we are in a world of hurt,” Carpenter told Cy-Fair Houston Chamber of Commerce members at the Chamber’s Feb. 19 General Membership Luncheon. “It is a good problem to have, but it is a problem.”
Residents in the college system’s boundaries voted down an $250 million bond election in 2006. Since then, Lone Star officials have been working to communicate the college system’s pressing growth needs to the community, and to work toward a bond program residents would accept and approve.
The Lone Star College System operates five colleges and six satellite centers. Enrollment system-wide is currently about 50,000 students. Lone Star College - Cy-Fair has the largest enrollment with over 11,000 students.
Carpenter said the proposed bond package includes about $95 million for projects at Lone Star College – Cy-Fair, the college constructed in 2003 with the tremendous help from the Cy-Fair Chamber and community.
Those projects include a 170,000-square-foot classroom addition, which would cost about $39 million; a $19 million satellite campus similar to Lone Star College – Cy-Fair’s Fairbanks satellite campus; a 30,000-square-foot student services building at $9.5 million; $6 million for additional parking facilities; and $2.5 million for science lab renovations.
Carpenter, who took over as chancellor seven months ago, said Lone Star College – Cy-Fair already has portable buildings on site to keep up with growth at that college site.
“( Lone Star College – Cy-Fair) President Diane Troyer and I are already discussing the need for more portable buildings,” Carpenter said. “Something seems less than temporary about portable buildings that have sidewalks leading to them!”
He said the Lone Star College System as a whole is experiencing tremendous growth, which is the driving force behind the need for a bond issue. That, coupled with the fact that the state is decreasing its proportional share of funding for community colleges, and those colleges are charged with a mission of keeping tuition costs low for students, make bond funding a key source of revenue for much-need infrastructure and expansion projects.
“The average size of a community college is 5,000 students, and we are adding that number to our district every 24 months,” Carpenter said.
Citing statistics, he said one in five area high-school graduates enroll at one of the five Lone Star College System colleges. Another 5,000 high school students attend dual-credit courses at, or through, those campuses. The average age of a Lone Star College System student is 25 years old and decreasing, which indicates that a growing number of high school graduates are going directly to community colleges after graduation, as opposed to larger universities.
Lone Star College – Cy-Fair’s growth closely mirrors Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District ’s growth, which is exploding and is projected to reach about 116,000 students in the next five years.
Lone Star College System officials lobbied for an increase in state funding for higher education in the 2007 state legislative session.
The Lone Star College District ended up with about $109 million, which covers the 2007-08 and 2008-09 budget years.
State funding only covers about 29 percent of the budget, Carpenter said. The remainder comes from an 11.44-cent property tax (45 percent) and tuition (26 percent).
Community colleges can only use state funds for approved instructional costs. The college district must fund new construction projects through the local property tax rate, or other funding sources.
Carpenter said the college district has launched about 31 major initiatives to meet the community’s needs and expectations. Among those are pledge to contain administrative costs; to expand the “E-College” program; and to expand and better communicate the district’s “Corporate College” program, which works with local corporations and businesses to offer continuing education and training programs for their workforce.
The Lone Star College System is also grading itself each year on how well the system compares to other top community colleges systems nation-wide.
02/21/2008
Cy-Fair Federal Credit Union Annual Spring Swing Golf Tournament
The tournament will be held March 31 at Jersey Meadow Golf Course, 8502 Rio Grande .
The tournament kicks off with registration from 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. During that time participants can also take part in a putting contest and fuel up at lunch with Carl’s Bar-B-Q, for a day on the greens. Golfing gets underway at 11:30 a.m. with a scramble-shotgun start. Starting at 5:30 p.m., an awards dinner and auction wrap up the event.
As in years past, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to Bear Creek, Cypress and Northwest Assistance Ministries.
The following companies will be in attendance. Underwriter Cy-Fair Federal Credit Union; lunch provided by Carl’s-Bar-B-Q; towel underwriter Towne Lake a Caldwell Company Community; gold sponsor Bridgeland; silver sponsor Texas Copperheads LLC; bronze sponsors Alpine Field Services Inc., CenterPoint Energy, Cy-Fair Lifestyles & Homes, Fox & Bubela Inc., Independence Bank, Member Home Loan Oasis Outsourcing and Weatherton-Cole Insurance Inc. Other sponsors AmegyBank of Texas, Texas One Community Credit Union, Maid Brigade of NW Houston, Oasis Outsourcing, Propane Express LLC, Texas One Community Credit Union, Cy-Fair Lifestyles & Homes, Comfort Suites, Executive Inn & Suites, Exit Realty Group, e2 Property, Terracon Consultants Inc., Jersey Meadow Golf Course, Motel 6 and Your Community Magazine.
For more information about sponsorship opportunities, tournament registration or auction items call Sherri Padalino at the Chamber at 281-955-1100 or sherri@cyfairchamber.com.
02/14/2008
Another record year for the Chamber Herd “Trail Riders”!!!!
The Chamber Herd at the Fourteenth Annual Cy-Fair ISD FFA Livestock Show & Auction raised over $15,200 and was able to purchase 8 animals at the Auction.
The FFA students at the Cy-Fair ISD High Schools benefited from the donation. The meat from the animals purchased will be processed and given to the three area ministries Bear Creek Assistance, Cypress Assistance and Northwest Assistance for their food banks. One steer was donated to the Boys and Girls Country.
The continued financial support of the following “Trail Riders” is greatly appreciated. Adventures in Advertising/Angelini & Associates, AJ Warren Service Co., Apartment - Home Search – Houston, Bob & Linda Singletary, Caldwell Companies, CenterPoint Energy, Criterion Development, Cy-Fair Federal Credit Union, Cy-Fair Lifestyles & Homes, Cy-Fair Rotary Club, Darcy & Bob Mingoia, Debbie Emery, Diane & Daryl Troyer, Dickens Delivery Service, Dirk Goldsmith, Donnie & Linda Humphries, Dr. David & Jane Anthony, Edna Thompsen CFP, Erin & Mazin Al-Salman, Fox & Bubela, Inc., Fox Landscaping, Gary Brown & Associates, Inc., George Hobson , Haginas & Chapman, Harold Rowe, Independence Bank, Jerry Albrecht Investments/Management, Joyce Berube, Judge J. Kent Adams, Keller-Williams Realty Greater Northwest, Kyle & Debbie Gibson , Lakey Electric Co., Lee Martin Automotive, Linda Macias, Lone Star College - Cy-Fair, Lone Star Quickprint , Maid Brigade of NW Houston, McCall, Gibson & Company, PLLC, Methodist Willowbrook Hospital, Pam & Jim Wells, Parcel Plus – 146, Pride & Recognition Balfour-All American, ProLine Supply Co., Prosperity Bank – Hwy 6, RADCO Construction Services LTD, Reach Unlimited, Inc., Renee & Harry Leach, Resource One Credit Union, Ritchey Leadership Services, Rick Berry & Associates, Sadi Woodard, Severn Trent Environmental Services, Signs Now, Skeeter's Auto Service LLP, Wal-Mart/Cypress Rosehill, Weatherton-Cole Insurance Agency Inc. and White-Tucker Company.
At the Cy-Fair Chamber General Membership Luncheon on Tuesday, March 18, at Crowne Plaza Houston - Brookhollow, 12801 Northwest Freeway, a Cy-Fair student will talk about his experiences with the FFA. The cost of the lunch will be $25.00 with reservations made before 12:00 p.m. on Friday, March 14.
Business or individuals who want to be apart of the 2009 “Trail Riders” or want to attend the luncheon on Tuesday, March 18 should contact the Cy-Fair Chamber at 281-955-1100 or email sherri@cyfairchamber.com.
02/14/2008
BIG Academy offers credits for attendance
Always on the lookout for innovative ways to help members and local business owners get one step ahead, the Cy-Fair Chamber of Commerce’s Businesses In Growth (BIG) Academy has launched a program that offers a continuing education unit (CEU) for regular attendance at monthly meetings in 2008.
The BIG Academy’s regularly scheduled monthly training session are on the fourth Tuesday of each month through October 2008. The sessions begin with a breakfast sponsored by Jersey Meadow Golf Course and networking session from 7:30 – 8:00 a.m., followed by an hour-long training/question & answer session from 8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.
All training sessions will be held in the Cy-Fair Chamber’s meeting room at 11050 FM 1960 West, Suite 100.
Those who attend at least seven out of the ten training sessions will receive a BIG Academy certificate that announces the completion of the training, which is equal to one continuing education credit. CEUs are recognized as a measure of professional education and training, according to Lone Star College – Cy-Fair’s web site (www.cy-faircollege.com).
“The whole idea behind the program, and BIG Academy, is to help businesses succeed and grow,” said Melissa Rotholz, co-chairman of the BIG Academy committee.”We pick topics that relate to businesses in our community.”
Rotholz said the topic for the February 26 training session is to learn how to resolve difficult customer situations with confidence, build trust and respect with your customers, recover from service failures, and attract your ideal customer. Future sessions will address sales and marketing strategies, goals, and planning for businesses.
She said the Chamber’s partnership with Lone Star College – Cy-Fair has proven to be a successful strategy in and of itself in the BIG Academy’s evolution. The Chamber is able to draw on the college’s resources, and vice versa, in providing training, information and resources for Cy-Fair business owners who are involved in the committee’s programs.
“This is a wonderful example of how strategic partnerships within our community can be formed to bring this type of benefit to chamber members and their employees,” said Al-Salman.
Information about future training sessions will be posted on the Chamber’s web site www.cyfairchamber.com and the college’s web site www.cy-faircollege.com ; and on flyers distributed to interested participants.
“Our goal is to have a full house at each session,” Rotholz said. “They are open to the public.”
For more information about BIG Academy’s CEU training program, contact Melissa Rotholz at 832.482.1056 or melissa.l.rotholz@nhmccd.edu ; or David Whitfield at 713-443-5774 or davewhitfield@comcast.net.
Archived News
01/04/2008 Chamber ceremony ushers in New Year, new leadership
01/04/2008 Board forms Chamber’s backbone
01/04/2008 Chamber awarded top honor in state competition
01/04/2008 Leaders foresee active 2008 Chamber year
01/04/2008 Four chamber members named “Business of the Year” finalists
01/04/2008 Attorney takes on leading role on fire department board
01/04/2008 Volunteer heart beats strong in Cy-Fair fire department