NHPO mixer to be held Thursday, August 2nd

National Hispanic Professsionals Organization (NHPO) will sponsor a mixer at Copa Wine Bar, 19141 Stone Oak Parkway, August 2nd from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. For more info call: 207-0112.

Scheduled Events for August to consider

Senatorial candidate Rick Noriega to take command of National Guard Unit in Saturday Change of Command Ceremony

• NHPO mixer at the Copa Wine Bar, 19141 Stone Oak, from 6:30 p.m.-9 p.m. Thursday, August 2nd
• Congressman Ciro Rodriguez will be the guest speaker at the Northeast Democrats monthly meeting, Saturday, August 4th 8:30 a.m. at Luby's Cafeteria off Nachodoghes Road near Broadway
• Change of Command Ceremony (Rick Noriega) for the 1st Battalion, 141st Infantry Regiment at 9 a.m. Saturday, August 4th
• Grand Opening of the office of State Rep. Joe Farias, located at 660 SW. Military Drive, Saturday, August 4th at 10 a.m.
• Beat Generation writer & photographer Allen Ginsberg photo exhibition at SAMA, August 4th- October 14th
• Veteran's Forum at UTSA Downtown Campus, Buena Vista Theatre, Sunday, August 5th at 2:30 p.m. sponsored by Congressman Ciro Rodriguez
• National Night Out Block Party all over Bexar County, Tuesday. August 7th, check you local neighborhood association
• Northwest Democrats to honor Congressmen Charlie Gonzalez, Henry Cuellar & Ciro Rodriguez, August 9th at Omni Hotel, 9821 Colonnade Blvd. at 6 p.m., (reception) for more info: 680-5701
• 100 Black Men of America Golf Tournament, Saturday, August 11th, Republic Golf Course, SW Military Drive off IH37, registration begins at 8:30 a.m., for more info call: 260-1402
• Mayors honor the Mayor, (Phil Hardberger) August 14th, from 6-8 p.m. at La Hacienda de Los Barrios, 1877 Redland Road
• Strategic Growth Strategies, 3463 Magic Drive, August 16th from 4:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m. followed by a mixer from 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m. to benefit Benevolence Works non-profit organization
• "Dollars for Dreamers," August 17th from 6:30-8:30 p.m. at the Blue Star brewing Company, 1414 S. Alamo #105
• Annual LNESC "Education Awards," Gala, August 17th at the Granada Ballroom, 14th floor, 111 Villita, begins at 5:30 p.m.
• Simplemente Lara, performed by Jose Ruben De Leon, Sunday, August 19th at 4 p.m. at the Buena Vista Theatre on the UTSA Downtown campus, for tickets call: 226-4801
• Annual Western Roundup honoring State Rep. Ruth Jones McClendon at the Buckhorn Museum, 318 E. Houston from 5:30 p.m.-7 p.m., August 21st
• Rev. Claude Black Jr. book signing for "Letters to my Grandson," at Barnes & Noble, 12635 IH10W at Fiesta Trail, at 3 p.m.

Rick Noriega to take command of 1st Battalion

Democratic Senatorial candidate Rick Noriega (photo) will put on his Army National Guard uniform Saturday, August 4th and take command of the 1st Battalion, 141 Infantry Regiment in front of the Alamo.

The Change of Command Ceremony will begin at at 9 a.m. Army Lt. Colonel Jaime A. Olivo will step down and Army Lt. Colonel Rick Noriega will take charge.

The Officers, Non-Commissioned Officers & soldiers of the 1st Texas Infantry, "First Texas" request your presence at the ceremony.

Latino Breakfast Club sponsors Benevolence Works

Joe Solis (photo)

Latino Breakfast Club

sponsor

"Strategic Growth Initiatives"
Presented by:
Arrowhead Advisors, LLC and The South Texas Business Group (Bios below)
Date: August 16th (Thursday)
Time: 4 p.m. - 5:30 p.m. Seminar
5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Networking Mixer
Location: 3463 Magic Dr., Conference Room, San Antonio, TX78229, (210) 582-5800

Cost: $10 (All proceeds benefit Benevolence Works, a non-profit. Checks and cash will be accepted. $12 at the door.)

R.S.V.P. Today:

Linda Hartman, Benevolence Works, http://www.invitationsconfirmed@benevolenceworks.com
Our phone numbers are:(210) 223-6648 ext 219 or (210) 849-1772.

About Benevolence Works:
Established as a social non-profit in the spring of 2007, Benevolence Works offers payee services to those on Social Security and Social Security Disability, as well as those on pensions who are in need of our service. Benevolence Works is not a branch of the Social Security Administration. but a service that aids the recipients of monthly stipends. The founder and Executive Director, Linda Hartman, has served as a payee for more than 50 clients before establishing Benevolence Works.

In December 2008, Benevolence Works will move to its offices in the newly built Haven of Hope, a city-wide initiative to help the homeless and others in need of a helping hand. Benevolence Works will offer referral service to our clients who wish to pursue other ways to enhance their quality of life.

We are currently at 110 McCullough Ave, Office 1, and are conveniently located near the heart of downtown San Antonio.

Our phone numbers are:(210) 223-6648 ext 219 or (210) 849-1772. Our website:www.benevolenceworks.com and direct email:lindahartman@benevolenceworks.com.

The "Strategic Business Growth Initiatives" Series

Part 1 "Strategic Growth Initiatives" Series
· How To Get More Clients?
-Find out what type of clients your business should attract. How do you go about getting and keeping those clients. What are some of the "Best practices" organizations are using to develop a strong pipeline of opportunities and clients.
· How To Get Funding?
-Find out what type of funding is available for Small and Mid-Sized Businesses. What do you have to do to position yourself to get the best interest rates and terms for your business. Find some of the resources out there that can help fund your business.

Red Light Camera critic guest on Chris Duel Show

L-R: Balcones Heights Mayor Jim Craven & former Balcones Heights Councilman Steve Walker

Statics on how many motorists who have paid fines for running red lights in Balcones Heights in the past few months is being questioned by a former city councilman who disputes the numbers Mayor Jim Craven is releasing.

According to the Mayor's numbers supplied KENS-5 Reporter Ross Palombo in an interview in front of the Balcones Heights Justice Center, Wednesday, August 1st, less than 10 violators have failed to pay the fines who are in arrears over 30 days. American Traffic Solutions (ATS) out of Scotsdale, Arizona, installed the video cameras, maintain them, issue the actual citation for the city and collect the $148 dollar fine.

Palombo requested the Mayor release the number of citations issued and number of fines collected. The Mayor declined on camera and later Palombo filed a request for the information under the Public Information Act.

Former Councilman Steve Walker, the lone councilman at the time to vote against the installation of the cameras in September, 2006, challenges the numbers. Walker pointed out in an interview with Palombo and later on the Chris Duel Show on 550 KTSA that approximately 3-thousand citations have been issued since the installation of the cameras at four intersections in the local suburb and "there is no way they have all been collected."

The four intersections include: Hillcrest & Babcock Road, Hillcrest & Fredericksburg Road at the entrance of Crossroads Mall, Fredericksburg Road & Crossroads Boulevard, & Fredericksburg Road & Balcones Heights Boulevard.

Walker told Duel, "when I left the Council in May there were nearly 1800 citations. In my last official meeting I specifically asked the Police Chief how many violations were cited and how many of the fines had been collected. We were given the numbers cited, but not the statistics on who paid the fines."

Effective September 1st, a state law signed by Governor Rick Perry in June goes into effect that would cap the fine at $75 per violation, and mandates that the city split the revenue generated from the violation with the state.

Education Awards Gala at Granada Ballroom

Annual LNSEC Education Awards Gala, August 17th from 5:30 p.m. (registration) Granada Ballroom, (7 p.m. Dinner and Awards) 111Villita St. 14th floor.


For more information call: Orlando Blancas at 226-2772, or Email o_blancas@yahoo.com

Defending the American Dream Summit in D.C.

You can't put a price tag on the American Dream. That dream is the heart and soul of America; it's the promise that keeps our nation forever good and generous, a model and hope to the world."
President Ronald Reagan October 22, 1986

Participate in the Defending the American Dream Summit.
The Summit will take place this October 4-5, at the Mayflower Hotel in Washington, D.C. Click here to REGISTER today.

At the Summit, former Massachusetts Governor and candidate for President, Mitt Romney, will join an all-star line-up of the nation's free market leaders including: ABC 20/20's John Stossel, U.S. Senator Tom Coburn, best-selling author Dinesh D'Souza, Congressman Jeff Flake, former Maryland Lt. Governor and Chairman of GOPAC, Michael Steele, Reagan Budget Director, Jim Miller, and The Wall Street Journal's John Fund and Steve Moore, to name just a few.

Early registration is only $49 and $29 for students, and includes breakfast, lunch, and a special "Tribute to Ronald Reagan" dinner. Click here to REGISTER today

In addition to hearing from some of the nation's free-market leaders and meeting hundreds of your fellow leading activists from across the country, the Summit will bring together leading national experts on grassroots mobilization. Our goal is to give you the tools and strategies you need to create effective campaigns to impact public policy at both the state and national level.

The Summit promises to be a massive show of force for our shared belief in lower taxes and more limited government.

This is an important time in our nation's history and you can make a real difference. Please REGISTER TODAY and let your voice be heard.
Sincerely,

Peggy Venable Texas Director
P.S. For more information visit http://capwiz.com/americansforprosperity/

Republican Primary candidate Conseco in the news

Quico Conseco (photo)
Republican Primary candidate
Congressional District 23


Republicans see Texas as a key to taking back House in 2008

"We've got at least one excellent candidate right now: Quico Canseco," (NRCC Chairman Tom Cole) said. "We think he will be a very formidable candidate."

Gary Martin
Express-News Washington Bureau

Washington — Despite President Bush's low approval ratings and public opposition to the Iraqi war, Republicans remain optimistic that they can rebound from the midterm election rout and win back seats in the House.

Republicans have targeted 28 Democratic lawmakers considered vulnerable in the 2008 election cycle — including Rep. Ciro Rodriguez, D-San Antonio, and Rep. Nick Lampson, D-Beaumont.

For the rest of the story, click here:
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/politics/stories/

TxDot to hold ground breaking ceremony

The Texas Department of Transportation (TxDot) is holding a Groundbreaking Ceremony for IH 37 between Fair Avenue & Pecan Valley Drive & IH 37/Loop 13 (SE Military Drive) Interchange:

When: Monday August 6th

Time: 9:30 a.m.

Where: in the back parking lot of Golds Gym off of Goliad at 2828 Goliad.

The purpose for this project is to raise New Braunfels, Southcross, and Hot Wells bridge to meet present standards, to mill and overlay IH 37 to eliminate a rolling and bumpy road into a smooth interstate and to change existing interchange from Cloverleaf to proposed Diamond to improve traffic low.

For more information please contact: Darla Laughter Public Information Officer Texas Department of Transportation at 210-615-5932, San Antonio.

Fort Worth follows City of Balcones Heights lead on installation of Red-Lights Cameras at City intersections

Fort Worth OKs use of Red Light Cameras at intersections

Fort Worth City Council members voted Tuesday to authorize red-light cameras at intersections but delayed choosing a contractor. Councilman Chuck Silcox had concerns about American Traffic Solutions, (ATS) the contractor scheduled to run the camera system, and asked city staffers to investigate further.

Silcox cited media reports that at least one city that hired ATS had lost money on the system during the early phases. City staffers had recommended hiring the same company used in Arlington because they didn't have time to go through their own bidding process.

Editor's Note: Balcones Heights uses the red-light cameras and to date still hasn't released the total number of fines paid. In the first two months of installation, over 1800 citations were issued by American Traffic Solutions, the vendor of record. ATS recently released some information claiming all but 10 tickets being tracked by ATS were paid. They pointed out that some tickets were being paid directly to the City and they could not track those citations. The traffic tickets are civil, not criminal which does not allow for issue of warrants, suspension of license or information turned over to insurance companies.