Pickin in Nac - August 22

Take advantage of a new concert series brought to you by Grant and Kati Harris - the founders of Pickin' in Nac.
Up soon - August 22 - is a 'song swap' by Adam Carroll and Michael O'Connor.
The event starts at 7 p.m. and is held in the Mill Room at Banita Creek Hall - 401 West Main in Nacogdoches, Texas.
All ticket sales and sponsorships from the August performance will benefit the Gulf Coast Chapter of the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
Go to www.pickininnac.com for details and ticket info.

Giant Garage Sale FUMC

First United Methodist Church will hold a giant garage sale on Friday, August 14 and Saturday August 15. All proceeds will furnish the church's nursery and Scout facilities.

If you have items you would like to donate, drop off at the church now between the hours of 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Garage sale hours are Friday, August 14 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday, August 15, from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.

All items include furniture, kitchen items, sheets and towels, gifts, jewelry, clothes, books, toys, plants, antiques, collectibles, baked goods, music and art, and electronics.

Also a silent auction will be held with "lots of simply wonderful things!"

First United Methodist Church is located at 201 E. Hospital Street, downtown Nacogdoches.

For more information call 936-564-8308.

Another Quickbooks Seminar!

Since the last Quickbooks seminar was so successful and so many people wanted another one, the second QuickBooks seminar will be held at the Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce. Lois Jackson, Certified QuickBooks Advanced Pro-Advisor, will present "Getting more out of Quickbooks Tips, Tricks and Reports." The seminar will be held on Tuesday, August 11th and wil start at 8:30 a.m. and will end 11:30 a.m.

Cost is $49 for Chamber memebers and $79 for non-members. Seating is limited so please register before Friday, August 7th.

For registration form please look under the "Register" section on this website.
www.nacogdoches.org

Census 2010, call out for accurate count made at Fourth Friday Luncheon

Census 2010: It's important to be counted
Click to read full story by JJ Velasquez, The Daily Sentinel

The Nacogdoches Chamber of Commerce Fourth Friday Luncheon featured a presentation by U.S. Census Bureau Partnership Specialist Gina Moers whose message was simple: the census is safe and important.

"Safety is hugely important in the Nacogdoches area," Moers said. "Under Title 13, we're not allowed to share the data with any other agency. It's used only for statistical purposes."

Photo by JJ Valasquez. Gina Moers, with the Dallas Regional Census center, delivers a presentation on the importance of Census 2010. Data derived from the census will play an important role in determing how the federal government allocates funding to Nacogdoches.

Aesthetic Laser Center Med Spa has a New Location!

Aesthetic Laser Center Med Spa owner Jennifer Caster and staff welcomed guests and chamber members to attend the ribbon cutting for their new location on University Dr.

The new location is 3312 N. University Dr., Ste. H.

The Med Spa features laser hair removal, laser skin tightening, spider vein treatment, Botox, Dermal filler, tattoo removal, hyperpigmentation, body treatments, facial packages, permanent intradermal cosmetics, and eyelash extensions.

The spa also offers a new makeup line and makeup artist that does special event makeup applications.


The spa is decorated lovely and has a very relaxing atmosphere. The center is great to do small teen birthday parties where the girls can get two different facials designed just for a teen.

The Caster's are very excited about the new location and encourage everyone to come and relax and enjoy everything the center has to offer.

For more information contact the Med Spa at 936-560-9131 or visit their website at www.alcmedspa.com

Eagle Aerial is Flying High!

The Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce attended a ribbon cutting ceremony for Eagle Aerial Advertising. The ribbon cutting was held on Tuesday, July 21 at the Mangham, Jr. Regional Airport. The ceremony included a demonstration of Eagle Aerial's services. The company's pilot flew a banner behind a plane that said thank-you to their sponsors-Chick-fil-a and Best Water Store.


Eagle Aerial Resources offers aircraft towed letter and logo banners. They also offer aerial photography and video. Eagle Aerial Resources also has a special way to thank our Armed Forces. “If a family member is returning from the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan, Eagle Aerial Resources will pull a ‘Welcome Home (member’s name)’ banner in their honor,” said Crew. “The banner will be towed behind our aircraft for approximately 1 hour around the member home town at no charge within a fifty mile radius of Nacogdoches, Texas. Outside this radius up to one hundred miles the price will be for the cost of fuel and pilot fees.”



For more information please contact Brian or Kindle Crew at (936) 366-3013 or (936) 632-3668. Additional information can also be found at Nacogdoches.org or by calling (936) 560-5533.

Nacogdoches is Keeping Cool!

The Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce held a ribbon cutting ceremony for Nacogdoches' newest ice cream shop, the Cookies and Creamery. The chamber and guest celebrated with free samples of ice cream, yogurt and cookies.


Cookies and Creamery is located at 2801 North Street, previously Max's Smoothies and Hotdogs. In the past, outside seating was the only seating available. However, Cookies and Creamery will now offer interior seating. The Cookies and Creamery offers over 24 Bluebell ice cream flavors, yogurt, smoothies, slushies and other sweet treats. So stop in and stay cool at the Cookies and Creamery. They are open from 11 am to 10 pm. For more info please call 936-462-0144

Town Hall Meeting - focus on transportation

Nacog Town Hall Flyer Citizens are encouraged to attend and participate in an open dialogue with the agency and local and regional transportation planners to discuss the transportation needs of East Texas.

Stephen F. Austin State University
Baker Pattillo Student Center Theater
222 Vista Drive, Room 2.101
Nacogdoches, Texas

Texas Department of Transportation and the Deep East Texas Council of Governments, request your presence for a discussion on transportation.

Visit the TxDOT website at www.TxDOT.gov.
Lisa Llamas(512) 475-3000
Texas Department of Transportation
Government & Public Affairs
Community Relations

Meet and Greet SFA Parents - fourth SFA Orientation session

Chamber members enjoyed meeting the parents of SFA's freshmen during the fourth SFA Orientation session. Parents took advantage of the opportunity to gather more information about the good things Nacogdoches has to offer them and their children.

Click here to view these pictures larger

Vendor apps available for Scare on the Square

Pictured are Shrek and Princess Fiona at the 2008 Scare on the Square. Photo by Bruce R. Partain.


Organizers of the upcoming 11th annual Scare on the Square are seeking food and non-food vendors, church groups, organizations, and businesses to fill available booths at the popular Halloween event. Slated for Saturday, October 31, the family friendly fall festival attracted over 8,500 people to the historic brick streets of downtown Nacogdoches last year.

Vendor applications are available at www.ci.nacogdoches.tx.us, by clicking on city departments and then Main Street. Forms are also available at the Main Street Office, located at 202 E. Pilar Street, room 117 in downtown Nacogdoches. A limited amount of booth space is available, so vendors are encouraged to make reservations early. The deadline to apply for space is October 16. You can also call organizers at 936-559-2573 and have a form faxed to you.

Scare on the Square will be held from 6-9 p.m. and will host a variety of activities and events, including a karaoke contest, a haunted hay ride, a costume contest and the popular haunted house.

Oldest Town in Texas Biker Rally

Be a part of history as the OTT crew hit the brick streets for the first ever OTT Rally Parade in downtown Nacogdoches on Saturday, September 19. Watch from the sidelines to see some of the most unique bikes around or bring your motorcycle down and join in the festivities. For more information on the parade, visit the official OTT Rally website.



For three days in September, historic Nacogdoches will welcome motorcycle enthusiasts from across the country to take part in the inaugural 2009 Oldest Town in Texas Motorcycle Rally. The OTT will be held on the grounds of the Nacogdoches County Exposition Center & Fairgrounds September 18-20, which will be transformed into “Camp OTT” for the length of the rally. With fully equipped campgrounds and over 125,000 square feet of shaded pavilions, the OTT Rally will have something for everyone to enjoy.

The OTT will feature motorcycle shows and competitions, live concerts, street bike freestyle exhibitions, food and non-food vendors, swap meet, the OTT BBQ Cook-Off, classic car show, downtown parade, bikini contest, washer tournament, Harley’s Angels Charity Poker Run, and cruising East Texas, including the historic El Camino Real Trail.

Advance weekend passes are available for $30 until Friday, September 11 and include an event shirt. Day passes will also be sold at the Nacogdoches County Exposition Center beginning at 9 a.m. on Friday, September 18 for $20. For all other event info and to see frequently asked questions, visit www.ottrally.com. For more information on Nacogdoches, please call the Nacogdoches Convention and Visitors Bureau at 1-888-OLDEST-TOWN or visit www.visitnacogdoches.org.

Winners of Freedom Fest Competition's

Two new champions have been crowned!
The Christian rock band, Flood, took the grand prize winnings of the first ever Christian Battle of the Bands, while Lance Dees took the title of “Burger Master” for the first annual Brookshire Brothers Star-Spangled Banner Burger Cook-Off. Both events took place in conjunction with the sixth annual Freedom Fest in downtown Nacogdoches Saturday, July 4.



The Christian Battle of the Bands started the July 4th festivities at 12 noon with 5 bands performing three songs each, with only one to win the 1st place prize. Top prize for the contest was the opportunity to open at Freedom Fest and 6 hours recording time donated by Encore. Flood, a native Lufkin band, took home the gold of the first ever Christian Battle of the Bands. Band members include Larry Barfield, Don Barnett, Steve Costner, Evan Davis, and Bill Henley. Awards were also given to the Shawnee Prairie Dogs for “Best Original Artist,” Joey Cefalu for “Best Guitarist,” Niko Garcia for “Best Drummer,” and Flood for the “Best Crowd Pleaser.”
“The event was better I than expected and we look forward to next year’s competition,” commented JaNiece Cefalu, organizer of the Christian Battle of the Bands.

Lance Dees not only made a mean burger at the Brookshire Brothers Star-Spangled Burger Cook-Off, but he also won the competition and a new Char Griller Smokin’ Pro from Brookshire Brothers. When asked about his winnings, Dees remarked, “I am extremely excited about taking first place, and I cannot wait to cook on my new grill.” Second prize went to Jay Knott, who won a $100 gift card from Brookshire Brothers for his burger made with a special “this and that” sauce. Participants of the burger cook-off had to use at least 4 products from Brookshire Brothers in their burger making and were judged based on a criteria sheet that included taste, appearance, and aroma.



“Both of these competitions were truly an asset to all of the festivities at this year’s Freedom Fest,” said Ashleigh Endicott, meeting and event coordinator for the Convention and Visitors Bureau. “We strive to make this celebration bigger and better every year.”

Texas Blueberry Festival poster wins best in its category

The 20th annual Texas Blueberry Festival poster won
BEST PROMOTIONAL POSTER from Texas Festival & Events Association!

We're tickled blue!

A few posters are left at the Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce - $10/ea.

Thank you Angie Brewer, Point A Media, for the BEST design.

Sewing Classes

Beautiful Beginnings Sewing Classes have begun. These are one-on-one classes designed to get you sewing beautiful projects from the very first class.

Classes are for adults to preteens. Choose the fabric of your choice and create your own beautiful bedding. Classes will build upon each other. First class you will learn the basics of the sewing machine and will end with you making a pillowcase that is ready for home or a special gift. Have the pillowcase embroidered for that personal touch.

In the following classes you will then proceed to make an appliqued pillow, laundry bag, quilted pillow sham and finally a quilt. Call today to schedule your one-on-one sewing lessons. Classes are $10.00 per hour plus the cost of the fabric kit. We cut, and you come ready to sew!

P.S. Moda Fabric's and Moda's Bake Shop Items have arrived. Notions and books are arriving daily!

For more information contact Lyric's at 936-560-1488
Located at 409 E. Main St.

We're on Twitter!

Follow the Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce on Twitter: http://twitter.com/NacChamber

And, follow us on this blog! Just look at the top of the page and click on "FOLLOW BLOG." You'll receive notices when we've added new posts.

Buy Local at the Farmers' Market

Shop Nac first at the Nacogdoches Farmers' Market for a variety of locally produced, homemade goods. This coming week not only are they open on Saturday but also on Wednesday. The market is now open two days a week for the busy summer season.

The market will feature fresh cut flowers, home made artesian cheeses, starter plants, collard greens, pies, chow-chow, fresh free range eggs, a variety of fresh baked breads, squash, green beans, potatoes, onions, yellow zucchini, patty pan squash, herb plants, bouquets, new potatoes, strawberries, blackberries, red lettuce, asparagus, carrots, pound cakes, local raw honey, pound cakes, fresh salsa, purple hull peas, pinto beans, and a variety of home made crafts. Belle Brook Farms will be here with a variety of local ground beef, steaks, brisket, roasts and fresh poultry.

Entertainment will also be provided this week by Steve & Cheryl Hartz, the old string shop between 8am and 10am.

The Nacogdoches Farmers' Market located at "the hitch lot" at the corner of West Main and Pearl Streets, is open from 8am, until noon or later every Saturday and Wednesdays through Summer. If the market parking lot full, additional parking is available in the Nacogdoches County Courthouse Annex parking lot.

For more information contact Sarah E. O'Brien
(936)-559-2573

What should YOUR business look like in a Speedo?

By Kordell Norton

Mike Vance is, in my opinion, one of the greatest business speakers in the last 100 years. His work on developing creativity is cornerstone. He introduced the three methods to create something. Those were:

• Invention Invention (i.e. the light bulb)
• Invention Extension (i.e. the flashlight)
• Invention Devention (see below)
  

An old Nike T-shirt had a saying plastered across the front that read, "The older I get the better I was!" That is me. Believe it or not, there was a time when I was the captain of the swim team -many, many, many pounds ago with the svelt torso to match. "So what," you say?
For decades the thinking was that to swim faster you wanted to make the swimsuit smaller and lighter. Hence the jokes of the Speedo clad swimmer being almost naked. Just how small can those suits get.
So how do you de-vent the Speedo?
You actually make the suit bigger, a lot bigger. Enter the Speedo LZR body suit at $550 a piece. These suits made a major splash at the last Oympics and since then are becoming a must for competitive swimming.
Speedo made the outside of the suit more "slippery" in the water than human skin, they also create a total body "girdle" effect by redistributing body mass around so that body fat, which is more buoyant than muscle, makes the human form sit higher in the water. I knew there was a reason I am carrying all this "buoyancy" around (big grin). In fact in these suits, having a little extra body fat is a good thing.
Results? Since it's debut last year there have been 82 world records set versus 15 in the past seven years. Swimmers are worried that they might NOT have access to one of these suits and so the budget of the respective swim team is now a consideration. These pricey little items have a shelf life of about 12 swims before they fall apart, or about $45 a race. Can you say razor blade cartridges as a powerful sales and marketing tool?
The current economy has people getting creative to make ends meet. The question to ask yourself, "what can I do, pro-actively, to 'de-vent' my product and services?" Well might you ask yourself:

• How can I make my product bigger?
• How can I make my product smaller?
• How can I eliminate my goods and services and morph the business to give the customer what he or she wants (that which they pay me for) without the current inventory and services?

If you don't think like this, don't worry, your competition is doing it for you.
And like Michael Phelps, they are doing it fast.

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Used with permission from Kordell Norton
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About Kordell Norton - The Top Line GuySpeaker, Consultant and is the author of Throwing Gas on the Fire - creating drastic change in Sales and Marketing, which looks at the elements of change used by great organizations. He is a member of the National Speakers Association and works with corporations, associations, education and government organizations who want to focus on the Top Line and their sales, customer service and business growth through strategic planning, training and leadership. He was an executive with several multi-billion dollar corporations with executive positions in sales, management, marketing, HR and Call Center management. As a certified Graphic Facilitator, he uses highly visual processes, along with humor, and entertaining methods for powerful, high energy presentations. He can be reached at www.KordellNorton.com or (330) 405-1950 or by email at Kordell@KordellNorton.com.

"Taking Care of Your Turfgrass"

Do you have difficulties keeping your lawn alive in this difficult East Texas climate? Jeff Abt, local photographer and garden columnist for the Nacogdoches Daily Sentinel, will present "Taking Care of Your Turfgrass." Abt will teach you how to create and sustain a beautiful lawn. The workshop will be held from 9:00 am until noon, Saturday, July 11, in room 118 of the Agriculture building on Wilson Drive on the SFA campus.

The cost for the seminar is $20 for members of the Friends of the SFA Gardens and $25 for non members.

To register contact Greg Grant at the SFA Mast Arboretum at 936-468-1863 or e-mail ggrantgardens@yahoo.com.

Texas Blueberry Festival guest Connie Spreadbury captures moments at 2009 event.

The Texas Blueberry Festival was held in downtown Nacogdoches on Saturday June 13, 2009 with over 12,000 guests. The festival is presented by Brookshire Brothers and produced by the Nacogdoches County Chamber of Commerce.

Brookshire Brothers runs the Texas Blueberry Festival pie contest. Judges form around the table to taste the wonderful pies and crown the Best Blueberry pie winner.

Texas Blueberry Festival guests eating pancakes at the annual Kiwanis sponsored Blueberry pancake breakfast.

Texas Blueberry Festival guests admire the several cars that were at the festival for the annual car show, which included classics all the way to brand new cars with all the works.

Don't forget to come to next year's Texas Blueberry Festival June 12, 2010 in downtown Nacogdoches, Texas! See you then!

Camp Hoblitzelle

In communities across Texas, thousands of children are neglected and living in troubled homes. Camp Hoblitzelle in Midlothian, Texas, is a place where they can come to find love, encouragement and peace while having fun amid God's beautiful creation.

Jeremy Monteith, Division Service Extension Director, said, "Hoblitzelle gives youth the chance to experience camp in a positive setting. Many times it is a child's first camp experience, first time trying horseback riding or balancing on a high ropes course and the first time hearing praise and worship songs. Combine this with a chance to learn more about the Bible and you have a camp experience that will definitely impact the lives of the kids who attend.The Salvation Army is so grateful for the dedicated service of the hundred of volunteers across Texas committed to helping children and families in need in our communities.

It is the Salvation Army's hope that they will have the funding necessary to provide each child who wishes to come, a memorable week at Camp Hoblitzelle. Please consider helping a child come to camp this summer by donating to the Salvation Army. Your support will help The Salvation Army accommodate the many children hoping to come to Camp Hoblitzelle in 2009.

The Camp is scheduled for July 13-18.
For more information contact The Salvation Army Texas Division representative LuVenia Owens.
Office (936)568-0900

Make sensational salsa

Your chance to learn how to make traditional salsa
9:30am – 11:00am, Saturday, July 11th
Nacogdoches County Courthouse Annex, Extension Community Room

$3.00 per person for supplies

Registration is required: (936) 560-7711, deadline, Friday, July 10. Texas AgriLife Extension, Nacogdoches County.

Sponsored by Family and Consumer Sciences Agents
Karen Tucker, Nacogdoches County and Liz Buckner, Rusk County

Meet 2,600 SFA freshmen at Back Lot Bash

SFA Freshman Convocation
5 PM. Sept. 3
William R. Johnson Coliseum


The Back Lot Bash is held in the back parking lot of the William R. Johnson Coliseum following the SFA Freshman Convocation. Each organization and business will be given one six-foot table. Electricity is limited and available on a first come-first served basis. Sign up soon to ensure that there is a spot for you.

Freshman Convocation Back Lot Bash 2009

Nationally-known Retail Expert Comes to Nac!

Jon Schallert, a nationally-known retail expert, will be holding a seminar titled "Destination Business" on October 6,2009. The seminar will address how to increase sales and profits as a destination business. It will begin at 8 a.m. and go until 2, and it will be held at Hotel Fredonia.

Jon Schallert is a small business expert who teaches communities and businesses how to become Consumer Destinations. His work has been published in The Wall Street Journal and Entrepreneur Magazine. He is also the only consultant in the world to be awarded the "Top Motivator" Marketing Award from Potentials Magazine.

Cost for the seminar is $50 for those living in Nacogdoches County and $125 per person living outside of Nacogdoches County. For registation forms and more information please go to Nacogdoches.org.