Greetings,

We are pleased to keep you up to date on the events & activities that are happening in Giddings.  Just a reminder to all of our Chamber businesses – we are looking for coupons, business cards and brochures to put into our visitors and hospitality bags for our many visitors. This is one of the promotional benefits our local businesses can enjoy when they join the Chamber.

Local Events & Activities in Giddings ~

Giddings Swap Meet – Aug. 24-26^th at Firemen’s Park from 9am to dark

Fedor Fish Fry – Saturday, Aug. 25^th

Grace Lutheran Pipe Organ Dedication Ceremony - Sunday, Aug. 26^th at 4pm located at Grace Lutheran Church –

·       Grace Lutheran Church ELCA will dedicate its newly refinished and restored pipe organ on Sunday, August 26th at 4:00 P.M. Grace is located at 1123 North Orange (Hwy 141) in Giddings. The organ was a gift to the church by Jeffrey Arnold who will be the special guest at the dedication program. At the organ will be Aaron Garcia, Bachelor of Arts in Organ Performance, and Master of Sacred Music.  

The program will consist of hymns in which the attendees will participate, interspersed with organ voluntaries. In addition five Master Musicians from the University of Texas will present several compositions composed by Mr. Garcia. Mr. Arnold will present a history of the organ. Refreshments will follow the Dedicatory Program. All are invited with no ticket required and no offering taken.

Anytime Fitness Ribbon Cutting & Grand Opening – Aug. 28^th from 10am to Noon. Come tour the facilities and meet the staff at our newest 24 hour fitness center.

Writers Seminar – Sept. 8^th from 9am to 4pm at the Giddings Public Library and Cultural Center featuring

Texas Word Wrangler Festival –Friday, Sept. 14^th at Giddings Public Library and Cultural Center from 9am to 5pm. Join us for a day filled with stories, books and meet 26 Texas authors.

 Hope to see you in the neighborhood!

Greetings,

The Chamber held the annual Community Awards Banquet Tuesday Aug 14th at the Landmark Event Center.  The community turned out in force as we had a sold out show!  It was a great event with a costume contest, hula hooping and bubble gum all around.  Our guests were treated to Giddings Downtown Restaurant roast beef, baked chicken, green beans, mashed potatoes, salad and rolls that would rival any grandma we know.  Ice Cream floats of every flavor were available for the guests after the wonderful meal.  Thanks to our sponsors we were able to have a wonderful evening.

Thanks to all the local civic organizations for their willingness to give their awards out at our banquet.  It gives our community a chance to see great community volunteers honored for their hard work!

Banquet Chairwoman, Dinah Breeden did a great job with the decorations and was very instrumental in directing the overall theme of the night.  You can thank her for the ice cream floats, because it was her wonderful recommendation.  I think the Triple XXX Root Beer was a big hit too, thanks to Jonathan Socha!  Of course you can’t have floats without ice cream and soda which was provided by Brookshire Brothers.  Thanks Mr. Pitts! 

Our social hour is always sponsored by the Chamber Board of Directors each year.  We always have a wonderful selection of tasty snacks to choose from on the appetizer table.  THANK YOU CHAMBER BOARD MEMBERS!

Our social hour is also sponsored by our local beverage companies and we appreciate their continued support.  Thanks to Mike Hopkins, Saunders and Wright Distributing for coming to our event and putting a smile on our face!

One thing that was apparent last night at the banquet was the love and admiration our community has for its awards recipients.  There were smiles and tears as each recipient received their award, but the presenters were also affected by the awards and who was receiving them.  You know you are doing something right when you see so many standing ovations during a community event such as this.

Thank you so much for your support and participation in our local community.  Thank you for continuing to support your Chamber of Commerce!

We are still accepting nominations for new board members.  Elections will be held soon!  You or someone you know would be a great Chamber Board member.  Contact the Chamber office for details.

 

Thank You to our Banquet Sponsors

 

First National Bank - Platinum

Classic Bank - Silver

Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative - Bronze

LiveAir Networks - Bronze

Breakfast Lions Club - Bronze

Giddings Noon Lions Club - Bronze

Giddings New Horizon Lions Club - Bronze

Rotary Club of Giddings - Bronze

Insurance Network of Texas - Bronze

B & N Oilfield Equipment Services - Bronze

Morgan Petroleum Testers - Bronze

Stoney’s Liquor - Bronze

Mike Hopkins Distributing, Inc. - Bronze

Saunders Distributing, Inc. - Bronze

Wright Distributing, Inc. - Bronze

Lee County Peanut Company * Brookshire Brothers * The Ice Box

 

Greetings,

The summer days are warm and seem to be keeping with tradition.  No rain, lots of sunshine and all the usual complaints for this time of year.  HEY! It’s August in Texas! It is supposed to be hot! 

We have a great story to share with you.  Take time to read a story about Giddings that is being circulated by the Texas Downtown Association & the Rural Conversations Newsletter.  We have had some great interns over the years and this year was no different.  We were lucky to have Lauren for about 4 weeks.  It was great to have her here and she learned a lot.  We can say that it is always interesting for our interns because every day is different and exciting.

We hope you enjoy the story as much as we did.

An Intern Experience - Giddings and Nocona
Rural Conversations
Memories from interns participating in the Texas Rural Internship Program in Giddings and Nocona.
http://www.shsu.edu/~org_crs/Publications/Newsletter/CRS%20Newsletter%201-4.pdf

REMINDER- Chamber Banquet tickets are going fast!  We only have a few tables left for Tuesday night.  The banquet will be held at the Landmark Event Center at 6PM, Tuesday, August 14^th.  We will honor our citizen of the year, lifetime achievement award winner and several others at this event.  Join us in congratulating all of our honored citizens. Tickets are $25 per person, at the Chamber office.

Greetings,

Reminder – Country Music Monday-Lone Star Opry is every first Monday of each month.  Join the Rotary Club of Giddings tonight, August 6^th for some great country entertainment at the Giddings High School Cafetorium.  The Rotary Club does provide curb service so that the walk  from the parking lot does not keep the guests from attending.  Also, hamburgers are being served by the Breakfast Lions Club at the concession stand to make it a complete evening of food and entertainment.  Tickets for the show are still only $5!

• •·       Meet & Greet and Ribbon Cutting for Texas Disposal Systems will be held at the Giddings Area Chamber of Commerce in the Red Brick Depot on Tuesday, August 7^th from 10am to 12pm.   Come meet our newest member and hear all about the benefits of residential recycling.  We are pleased to host this meet and greet for a member that does not have a bricks & mortar building.  We want them to feel welcome in our community.  Bring your business cards!  This is a great chance to network with other like-minded business owners.

 

WRITING SEMINAR TO BE HELD IN SEPTEMBER -

Everybody wants to have written a book, but not everyone knows how to start, finish or what to do next. It is exactly these challenges that the seminar FROM WRITER TO AUTHOR: The Lonely Years (What You Didn’t Want To Know But Have To) addresses.  Come join 19 other aspiring writers in a hands-on workshop led by mystery author Dee Wilbur (Dee Pipes and Charlie Yates).  You will leave with a clear roadmap for your journey from writer to author. 

The lucky 20 will meet Saturday, September 8^th from 9-4 (lunch included) at:

 The Giddings Public Library & Cultural Center

276 N. Orange

Giddings, Texas 78942

979-542-2716

The cost is $45 in advance or $55 at the door. Sign up now at the Giddings Public Library!

 

Check out Dee Wilbur at Amazon.com or at DeeWilbur.com.  Participants from earlier seminars have completed their drafts, submitted manuscripts, and published books.

You will receive your pre-work for the seminar after you register. We’re going to have fun, so bring a friend. 

 

Greetings,

We are so excited to announce the Ribbon Cutting & Grand Opening of the Landmark Event Center.  Our friend & neighbor, Fred Jones and his wife Dee, owner of Giddings Downtown Restaurant will welcome the community to their newest venture. Please join us for tours and refreshments at 289 N. Main, Giddings, Texas.

Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting

August 2, 2012

4:30pm

Join us for refreshments!

Welcome Fred & Dee Jones in their new venture!

Tours will be available.

Remember we will have the Chamber Banquet at the Landmark on August 14^th at 6pm.

Other community reminders:

• •·       Country Music Monday, August 6th, 7:30 P.M. at the Giddings High School Cafetorium on Highway 77 North of Giddings. Tickets $5.00 food available.  Performers: Sally Carlson, Tom Morris; Terry Moore, Jeff Kimey, Rick Weiss, and the regular Country Music Monday Band.

• •·       Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting for Texas Disposal Systems – August 7^th at 10am at the Red Brick Depot.  Join us at the Chamber office for refreshments and help us welcome our new member and learn about their award winning recycling program and the new community trash management company.

Let us know how we can help you and your business grow!

In September Texas Monthly will be hosting their 3rd Annual BBQ Festival. Participating this year will be our City Meat Market!

The City Meat Market owned by Gerald Birkelbach, is listed among Texas Monthly's top 50.

DATE/TIME

Sunday, September 23, 2012

12 p.m. – 5 p.m.: VIP admission

1 p.m. – 5 p.m.: General admission

 

COLLEGE STATION (Real Estate Center) – Continued activity in the oil and gas industry made the state’s mining and logging industry first in job creation in June, according to the Real Estate Center's Monthly Review of the Texas Economy.

The leisure and hospitality industry and the other services industry ranked second and third.

Odessa ranked first in job creation followed by Laredo, Texarkana, Corpus Christi and San Angelo.

The Texas economy gained 231,000 nonagricultural jobs from June 2011 to June 2012, an annual growth rate of 2.2 percent compared with 1.3 percent for the United States. The state’s private sector added 281,800 jobs, an annual growth rate of 3.2 percent compared with 1.8 percent for the nation’s private sector.

Texas’ seasonally adjusted unemployment rate fell to 7 percent from 8.1 percent. The nation’s rate decreased from 9.1 to 8.2 percent.

All Texas industries except the information industry had more jobs, but the state’s government sector continues to lose jobs.

All Texas metro areas except College Station-Bryan, Killeen-Temple-Fort Hood, Abilene and Wichita Falls had more jobs.

The complete economic review, written by Dr. Ali Anari and Dr. Mark Dotzour, is available on the Center's website.

The Rural Capital Area’s Top Three Fastest Growing Counties of 2011 Were Lee, Caldwell, and Williamson

Data was recently released for the full year of 2011, giving us our first look at year-over-year growth rate comparisons.  Lee County grew the fastest of all counties in the Rural Capital Area, 11.8%.  Growth was driven by over 400 new jobs at local civil engineering firms, likely in shale development.  Caldwell County grew 7.4% in 2011, led by a strong rebound in its manufacturing sector.  Williamson County grew 6.6% undefined third place – but created the vast majority of new jobs in the region, nearly 8,000.

The Top 3 Fastest Growing Major Industries of 2011 in the Rural Capital Area May Surprise You: Manufacturing, Health Care & Private Education, and Leisure & Hospitality

Manufacturing employment grew 11% in 2011, led by growth in computer equipment, electronic instruments, fabricated metals, stone products, machine shops, and wood products. Health Care & Private Education grew nearly 8% in 2011, led by a large increase in doctors offices (not hospitals), home health care, and nursing care.  Private educational schools (K-12 charter and technical schools) grew a surprising 25%.  Leisure and Hospitality grew quickly – nearly 7%, primarily due to the expansion of restaurants.

The Wholesale Trade, Transportation and Utilities industry also posted large gains – a 12% increase, but upon further analysis, we discovered that 5,000 new jobs were posted in computer wholesaling in Williamson County that were accompanied by a similar decline in Travis County.  This is most likely due to a reclassification (transfer) of workers at Dell from one office in Austin to the Round Rock office – not an actual increase in employment (a rare statistical aberration).

It was also interesting to see that Government employment shrunk 2% in the Rural Capital Area, a rate similar to the US decline despite the region growing faster than the US.

Thank you to our sponsors and friends that have agreed to come out on Sunday afternoon to help! July 8^th, at 5pm on the Depot Dock we will serve 100 students and faculty of Institute at Festival Hill.

Sponsors –
City Meat Market – BBQ & sauce
Bluebonnet Electric Cooperative - Water

Friends –
Carol Bennett - banana pudding
Gina Reat - potato salad
Lauren Cook - onions
Kelita Alberts – pickles
Denice Harlan – tea
Joyce Bise – peach cobblers
Pratik Bhakta - cups, plates, napkins
JD Fain - ice
Joe Franks - beans

Still need some noodles, bread, desserts

Hope you will consider coming out to meet the students and founder James Dick, of Festival Hill.

Local Chambers from across the state of Texas convened Monday night June 25, 2012 for the Texas Chamber of Commerce Executives (TCCE) Annual Excellence Awards. Our Giddings Chamber came away with three awards that night.

Giddings took third place in each of the following categories:

Outstanding Chamber Brochure
Outstanding Directory or Magazine
Excellence in Social Media Marketing

The overall competition had more than 200 entries from which the best were judged by panels of experts. We are honored and thrilled to have been recognized at this event!