| | The End and the Beginning Like many of you, H-GAC is busy finishing our year's work for 2007. We have had an active year. In addition to strong service in all of our ongoing programs, there were several noteworthy accomplishments. Among these are purchasing upgraded 9-1-1 equipment for 23 sites across the region, providing outstanding workforce services to more than 20,000 businesses across the region, completing our 2035 Regional Transportation Plan, and funding several small city downtown improvement projects. While this important work is finishing, we are also in the midst of preparing for 2008. H-GAC's Board began considering our 2008 Service Plan and Budget in October, and they will continue to discuss and study the proposal this month. Next month the Board's Finance and Budget Committee makes its recommendations on the Budget, and a public hearing and possible Board action is scheduled for December 18. The proposed 2008 Budget will continue our core programs and will also provide new services to our region and its local governments. Everything H-GAC does is possible because of the participation of our local government members and the leadership of H-GAC's Board of Directors. We are looking forward to a strong finish in 2007, and we are preparing for a quick start in 2008. Jack Steele
Executive Director |
| H-GAC 2008 General Assembly Annual Meeting |  The 2008 General Assembly will hold its Annual Meeting on Friday, January 25, at the Intercontinental Houston located at 2222 West Loop South in Houston. The Reception will begin at 6:00 p.m. and Dinner will be served at 7:00 p.m. The featured speaker will be State Senator Steve Ogden. Invitations will be mailed in early January, but you can reserve your place at the meeting now by calling Angela McKay at 713-993-4591. Cost is $50.00 and we accept cash, checks, Visa, and MasterCard. |
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| New Web Site Coming Soon! | H-GAC is currently working with a consultant to revise the web site. The new and improved version is expected to make its debut on December 17. Keep an eye out for it, and let us know what you think! Please be advised that if you listed a page from our old web site in your Favorites, it will no longer work with the new web site. The address for our new web site will remain the same: www.h-gac.com. |
| New Board Members for 2008 | The delegates to H-GAC's 2008 General Assembly representing Home Rule cities with population less than 25,000 met in caucus recently to elect two members to represent them on the H-GAC Board of Directors. Councilman Kerry Neves of Dickinson and Councilman Pat McLaughlan of Bellaire were re-elected to serve on the Board. Elected as their alternates were Councilman Cecil Willis of Stafford and Councilman Steve Pierson of Katy. The delegates to H-GAC's 2008 General Assembly representing General Law cities also met in caucus recently to elect two members to represent them on the H-GAC Board of Directors. Mayor Delores Martin of Manvel and Alderman Terry Henley of Meadows Place were re-elected to serve on the Board. Elected as their alternates were Councilwoman Kay Mudd of Iowa Colony and Councilwoman K. Natalie Ong of El Lago. Board members representing Counties and cities with population of 25,000 or more are being designated by their respective entities. The 2008 General Assembly members representing Independent School Districts will be meeting soon to elect a member to represent ISDs on the H-GAC Board of Directors. |
| H-GAC Representation at State and National Levels | 
County Judge Carolyn Bilski of Austin County was elected to the National Association of Regional Councils Board at their annual conference in June. 
Alderman Terry Henley of Meadows Place was elected Second Vice President of the Texas Association of Regional Councils at their September annual conference. Alderman Henley has represented H-GAC on the TARC Board for several years. His election as Second Vice President leaves a vacancy in H-GAC's Board representation, and that vacancy will be filled by Commissioner B.J. Gaines, Jr. of Walker County. H-GAC also has two Past Presidents of the TARC Board continuing to serve. They are Mayor Tom Reid of Pearland and County Judge Carolyn Bilski of Austin County. |
| Save the Date: TreePrint Workshop | Mark your calendars for the TreePrint Workshop on March 31- April 1, 2008. It is tentatively planned to be held at the North Harris Montgomery Community College Training Center located at 5000 Research Forest Drive, The Woodlands, TX 77381 (next door to HARC).
This workshop will provide decisionmakers with the tools necessary to quantify the benefits of urban forests and help foster community involvement and awareness of urban forested areas. For more information about the workshop or sponsorship opportunities please contact Michael Merritt with the Texas Forest Service at mmerritt@tfs.tamu.edu. |
LEED Congratulations | | Congratulations are in order for H-GAC's Amy Boyers, Senior Environmental Planner, who recently passed her LEED exams to earn her Accreditation. Her knowledge and expertise will be used as a springboard for various LEED-focused programs and workshops at H-GAC, including the upcoming Green Schools Symposia. The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™ is the nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings. LEED Professional Accreditation distinguishes building professionals with the knowledge and skills to successfully steward the integrated design and LEED certification process. LEED Accredited Professionals have demonstrated a thorough understanding of green building practices and principles and familiarity with LEED requirements, resources, and processes. |
| Green Schools Symposia | The Houston-Galveston Area Council and the U.S. Green Building Council Greater Houston Area Chapter (USGBC GHAC) wish to invite you to the first in a series of symposia on Green Schools on January 17, 2008 at the United Way, located at 50 Waugh Drive, Houston, 77007, from 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. At this symposium, which is geared toward superintendents and school board members, you will hear how independent school districts around the region are planning and successfully implementing Green School designs. Dr. Abelardo Saavedra, Superintendent of the Houston Independent School District, will be the luncheon speaker. You can register now by visiting www.h-gac.com/greenschools. The following symposia are scheduled later in 2008: - Green Schools Symposium Part 2 on April 11, 2008 for facilities and maintenance staff.
- Green Schools Symposium Part 3 on October 11, 2008 for parent groups, such as PTAs or PTOs.
If you have any questions about the Green Schools Symposia or our green schools education program in general, please feel free to contact Amy Boyers at 713-993-2441, amy.boyers@h-gac.com or Lora-Marie Bernard, (USGBC) at 281-506-3867, LoraMarie@usgbc-houston.org. |
| Holiday Closings | H-GAC Offices will be closed for Thanksgiving Holidays on Thursday and Friday, November 22 and 23. Offices will also close on Monday and Tuesday, December 24 and 25, for Christmas Holidays. |
| H-GAC Board of Directors | | The agenda and attachments for the Board of Directors meetings are posted on our web site at www.h-gac.com. The documents are posted the week before each meeting. Board meetings are held at 10:00 a.m. on the third Tuesday of each month on the second floor at 3555 Timmons Lane, Houston, Texas 77027. |
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