Fort Worth Chamber's Newz-E-Letter: April 30, 2008

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For Members, About Members	April 30, 2008
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PICTURE OF THE WEEK!

If you missed the recent Leads Explosion event, check with Pegge Krause-PDQ Temporaries or Nathan McReynolds-Glint Advertising. Their smiles alone let you know this month's event at Courtyard by Marriott-Fort Worth West/Lands End brought a few leads their way.

Click here to see other Leads Explosion pics in the Chamber's brand new Online Photo Gallery.

Sponsored by

Happy anniversaries: When Marvelous Maggie May at Bass Performance Hall heard it was Mr. B and the Chamber's third anniversary this week, she said, "Hey, it's our anniversary, too. No. 10. Why not celebrate with us." And now we have two sets of two tickets to the Chuck Mangione & Dianne Reeves concert tomorrow night. It will be a Hot Jazz and Cool Stars evening and if it's not too last-minute for you, then enter to be sax-tified.

Is three times the charm? Under lock & key, rockin’ Rene' Knox of Cash America has our fantastic third-annual Mother’s Day giveaway. If you’ve procrastinated thinking about your mom until now, here’s a fantastic way to say I Love You…and no one will tell that you actually won this prize. Cash America is offering one pair of 14-carat, white gold ear studs with a total weight of .47 points, matching Mr. B’s grade-point average at Florida State. Enter now and add some sparkle to your main squeeze’s life.

Dancin’ in the streets: You planning a street party some time this summer? All the neighbors, some grilling, some storytelling. If so, tell attendees no iPods because you’ve got your own DJ spinning tunes courtesy of DFW Tunes. They’ll come and they’ll rock you.

Brassie invite: Gal pal Sarah at SafeHaven, who is small but not Reece Small, has seen Mr. B’s strokes on the golf course, so she bypassed his invite and sent along two entries for readers to the nonprofit’s annual fundraiser golf tournament at Fossil Creek May 5. These entries include a boxed lunch, an after-strokes dinner and a ticket for a guest to the party that follows.

Power behind the power: Leadership Fort Worth will honor Mayor Mike Moncrief’s (3M) better half, Rosie Moncrief, tomorrow night during its Fellows Dinner. The honor could have been for her leading physical fitness featured in this month's Fort Worth Texas magazine, but, coming from Leadership Fort Worth, it's probably for leadership. Ya think? If the Chamber ever allowed Mr. B to editorialize, he’d say “Great choice!” The dinner is at the Renaissance Worthington and we've got two tickets if you want to raise one for Rosie. For last minute reservations email Margi Cantrell.

Do I get a NASCAR suit? Gal pal Wendy (to be married June 21 in Hawaii) Odenbach of Speedway Children’s Charities was pretty revved about this giveaway. She raced it to Mr. B quicker than she’ll walk to the alter. It’s a VIP package for next month’s Laps for Charity I – and includes a 5-lap session in your personal vehicle on the oval track at Texas Motor Speedway during a reserved time slot, two-week trial membership to the Speedway Club, a 3-course dinner for two at the Speedway Club, a T-shirt and a complimentary photograph in victory lane.

Peanut problem solving: Are you annoyed by those pesky packing peanuts? Navis Pack & Ship can help you help the environment, reduce rubbish and recycle by accepting your peanuts (bubble wrap, honeycomb and clean large foam, too). Or, get this: Call the Peanut Hotline (800) 828-2214 for a recycler near you.

Zoots me fine: Is there hidden meaning in the Chamber’s VisionFW party animals holding an InSight Seminar tomorrow at the Fort Worth Zoo? The session is titled Live, Work, Play—Finding the Balance, and after about four hours of that, attendees will try to balance drinks and hors d'oeuvres in each hand as they have a happy hour or two. What fun!

New boss in town: André McEwing, the long-lost Scottish son of J.R. Ewing, has been named president of Southeast Fort Worth Inc. McEwing had been director of economic development for the Fort Worth Metropolitan Black Chamber of Commerce. Southeast Fort Worth is a collaborative effort formed by the Fort Worth Metro Black Chamber of Commerce to bring private-sector economic development to the area.

Did you forget, too? Anonymous note last Wednesday from an administrative assistant: “I got nothing, probably will not get anything, but the privilege of still having a job.”

Quite an investment: Fidelity’s second phase building in Westlake consists of 600,000 square feet of office space and 900,000 square feet for a parking garage. All told, it’s about $180 million.

A toast: Larry Anfin, the sober (more ways than one) president of Coors Distributing Company of Fort Worth, is the 2008 recipient of the Pat Mohler Award for his company’s exceptional service during the annual food drives benefiting Tarrant Area Food Bank. Like Larry says, “Drink and give, but don’t drink and drive.”

A happy birthday: Accounting firm Sproles Woodard is 75 tomorrow and it bought itself a few birthday presents, namely a new logo, letterhead suite and website. “We like to think of ourselves as 75 years young, rather than 75 years old,” says managing partner Pat Evans.

Get ready for May 29: It’s a month out, but the Chamber’s North Area Council has secured Hillwood President Mike Berry as its May 29 luncheon speaker and you better sign up early. Berry might draw more than the 1,311 attendees Mr. B drew when he expertly spoke about “Parenting and Bodybuilding: Building your strength to survive the teen years.” The luncheon is at The Dallas/Fort Worth Marriott Hotel & Golf Club and you can sign up here.

Get ready for…2009: A guy named Brian Robb, who was over-dubbing for Don Marable of EdwardJones at a Chamber seminar, says forms/paper guys should have a field day in 2009 because of all the new financial forms required for retirement plans.

We always deliver: Lynn Elliott of Radiology Associates was the 9th-place winner at the Chamber’s Texas Hold ‘em table last year, but scurried out without the prize – a day of pampering at a local spa. He called for it in December when he realized by reading the website that he had won a prize. By then, it was “lost” (read "used" by unnamed Chamber employee). Finally, it was “found.” And Mrs. Elliott is going to be very, very happy.

Y oh Y? Downtown YMCA has lost Doug Nakashima to Albuquerque. He did great things in a short amount of time.

Painful to admit: Chamber membership maven Terry Johnson must feel your pain. He has a ribbon cutting set up tomorrow with Dr. Aaron Wall and Gateway Chiropractic, 3250 Hulen, Ste. 140, and one May 14 with Kenda Pennington and The Pain Management Center of Texas at 3000 Alemeda Street. Ribbon cutting and other Chamber event photos can be seen here. (BTW, Mr. B’s college roommate, 6-6 and 182-pound John Pennington, managed his pain with two six-packs a day. He lasted one semester.)

High-falutin’: Condos at new Omni and Tom Struh’s Villa de Leon are fetching $400 or more a square foot. You could take B Mansion for less than $80. That’s a big difference!

Trumped: Karel Rucker of Mother Rucker’s awesome sweet treats has a contract with Trump Resorts high-end clients. While negotiating, she had to remind them “This ain’t my first rodeo.”
Speaking of cowpokes: John Annas of RLB Leasing will remain a city slicker after having recently de-wormed and vaccinated 56 cows.

Walk, don’t run: Sundance Square went Green earlier this year, now it’s going pale. A new ad campaign features “Walking Guy,” who appears as if he could use a Paradise Tan. But he does get to hang around with some hot models and will bring you some of downtown’s goodies.

Wyatt took so long? Patrick Wyatt of Century 21 Judge Fite Company is now regional manager for the Fort Worth and Arlington real estate offices.

Not stereotypical: Former Oklahoma star QB J.C. Watts, speaker at the TCU Neeley School of Business breakfast series, is not a “dumb jock.” He’s on the board of directors for Burlington Northern Santa Fe and Dillards, was a four-term U.S. representative and is a CNN and print political commentator. His J.C. Watts Companies is trying to raise $150 million for an equity fund. “I go into business to create a profit,” he said. “Profit is not a bad word.” BTW, outgoing TCU Dean Dan Short says he is going back to the classroom so he can better “manipulate audiences.”

Bean me up: That Fort Worth Club coffee is really good. A little of that, a cup from Café Aspen, a jolt from Eurotazza Coffeehouse and Mr. B is a happily buzzin’ bean. For all you nonprofits, Eurotazza is offering a special fundraising opportunity.
Match game: Texas Health Resources during 2008 is matching any $100,000-plus endowment set up with Harris Methodist Health Foundation up to $12.5 million. Mr. B is not involved, just passing it along.

Living unassisted: Mr. B visited Hill Villa for a Gold Member reception and to scout out future homesteads. Executive Director –“for now…lol”—Karolyn Sorenson was a wonderful tour guide of the 140-room facility with a zillion dining areas, including a Johnny Rockets-style soda shop, a media room, a saloon, shuffleboard and billiards table. Wow! And a free Happy Hour every Friday (hint, hint, Leads Groups).

Could be catchy: Casa Mañana public relations and sales manager is AmyJo Measles, who Mr. B finds quite infectious.