UPCOMING EVENTS
SATURDAY, JANUARY 22, 2005
Chamber Annual Banquet
6:30 p.m.
Southfork Ranch
3700 Hogge Road
Parker, TX
Limited Seating Available so make your reservations today.
Formal or Mardi Gras attire.
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2005
Business Card Exchange
8:00 a.m.
L-n-L’s Restaurant
103 N. Ballard
Wylie, TX
Sponsor: Inside Collin County
THURSDAY, JANUARY 27, 2005
Board of Directors Meeting
7:30 a.m.
American National Bank
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2005
Business Card Exchange
8:00 a.m.
L-n-L’s Restaurant
103 N. Ballard
Wylie, TX
Sponsor: North American Title
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2005
After Hours Mixer
5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
L-n-L’s Restaurant
103 N. Ballard
Wylie, TX
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2005
After Hours Mixer
5:00 – 7:00 p.m.
Inwood National Bank
200 S. Hwy 78
Wylie, TX
Come on out and see the new Inwood Bank
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2005
Business Card Exchange
8:00 a.m.
L-n-L’s Restaurant
103 N. Ballard
Wylie, TX
Sponsor: Allstate Insurance – Tomi Brizendine
RENEWING MEMBERS
Foresters
Thank you for your continued support of the Wylie Chamber.
NEW MEMBERS
Game Winning Productions
Scot Harrison
Keller Williams Realty
Daniel Pescatore
Lynn Grimes and theGrimes Team of Keller Williams
Lynn Grimes
CHAMBER NOTES
CHAMBER BANQUET
The Wylie Chamber of Commerce will host its Annual Banquet on Saturday night, January 22 at Southfork Ranch. The dress for the evening is formal or Mardi Gras Costume and the festivities begin at 6:30pm with a Cocktail Hour (we are talking Mardi Gras after all!!) leading up to the Banquet Program which begins at 7:30pm.
The Chamber will hand out its annual awards to the Small Business of the Year, the Large Business of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Citizen of the Year, and Ambassador of the Year and will also honor Wylie ISD teachers by presenting the Teacher of the Year awards to Secondary and Elementary Teacher of the Year. Current Chamber Chairman J.C. Worley becomes past-Chairman that Saturday as he will pass the gavel of leadership to Albert Vanderkroon, who will serve as Chairman of the Wylie Chamber for 2005.
No party reveler will walk away empty handed as the night promises to be filled with fun and prizes. In between these prestigious awards there will be a Live Auction where those present can win “Fabulous” furniture items, sporting packages a custom-made iron porch swing from JC Ornamental Iron Works and much, much more. We are still gathering prizes so there will be more to come that you can bid on and win.
If a Live Auction isn’t your cup of gumbo, there will be a Smaller Raffle where participants can win prizes such as Doughnuts for a year, movie tickets, season tickets to Wylie H.S. football games, free food to some local eateries, free golf, free bowling and many, many more prizes.
The Raffle of the Night however will be the drawing to win a 7-day all-inclusive trip for two to Hawaii, valued at $4,800.00. Raffle tickets cost $20 apiece and there will only be 500 sold. Tickets are available in advance by contacting the Wylie Chamber (972-442-2804) or you can purchase tickets at the Banquet on January 22. Contestants need not be present to win.
Once we hand out the awards, everyone is welcome to stick around to dance the night away, as 9:30 to 11:00pm is reserved for socializing and dancing to the tunes spun by RJ Spinners DJ Service.
So kick your year off right by honoring some outstanding Wylie citizens, winning some cool prizes and celebrating Mardi Gras style with the Wylie Chamber of Commerce.
Tickets and sponsorships are still available. Contact the Chamber office at 972-442-2804 for details.
JUST WHAT IS “MARDI GRAS” ATTIRE?
This seems to be the question most asked by chamber members lately. Dress for the occasion is listed as “Formal or Mardi Gras Attire” and to help members pick their clothes we surveyed a few local members to get their opinion.
A survey of the Leadership Wylie Class II brought the following opinions:
For women, formal dress complete with feather boas many, many beads and masks seemed to be the general consensus. The dress doesn’t have to be formal, but the beads feathers and masks seem to be a “must”. For those who do not have a mask, Nancy from Almost Home, one of our fine downtown merchants, will have masks on sale at the store to purchase for the banquet.
As to the male attire, the best I could gather was that Mardi Gras attire means period costumes also with plenty of beads. One Chamber Board member and former resident of New Orleans, suggested that Mardi attire for men included beads, boots and under wear but that might be a little too casual for the Chamber banquet!
The general consensus, after some exhaustive research, is that “Mardi Gras” attire means any type of costume you can put together – as long as it includes lots of beads, feathers and a mask. The attire for men is still up in the air, but I will keep looking.
Don’t let the “Formal” part of the invitation fool you either, as that is again subjective to each individual. On Saturday we will see everything from tuxedos and formal ball gowns to jeans and nice dresses, so feel free to wear what you are comfortable in to have fun.
Just keep the underwear on the inside please.
Tickets are still available and don’t forget to bring a little extra spending case to purchase chances to win many prizes ranging from an all inclusive trip for 2 to Hawaii to furniture and free meal certificates from local restaurants. The party starts at 6:30 at Southfork and we hope to see everyone there.
MESSAGES FROM OUR MEMBERS
WOODBRIDGE GOLF CLUB
Get the year off to a GREAT START!! Woodbridge has meeting and retreat facilities for both small and large groups. Let us help you and your colleagues get the year off to a good start by booking your 2005 Planning Retreat or Budget meeting and maybe…sneak in a little golf!! Call Sara Alexander for date availability and menu options at 972-429-5100 x 7 or e-mail Sara at sara@wbgolfclub.com.
NETWORK ESSENTIAL TECHNOLOGY, INC.
As a proud member of the Wylie Chamber of Commerce, NET is offering all other members of the Wylie Chamber and their immediate families a special reduced rate of $50.00/Hour for the following:
Computer Services
· Computer Repairs and Upgrades
· Monthly Maintenance and Security Updates
· Home or Small Office Networking
· Training Development and Delivery
(Offer Expires March 31, 2005)
Have you wanted a new computer? We’ll help you design and then we’ll build and program the computer that fits your precise needs.
Phone: (972) 442-7714 Email: charles.flesch@netessential.net
Visit our website at www.netessential.net
WYLIE ISD EDUCATION FOUNDATION
Mark your calendars!!! The Wylie ISD Education Foundation will host its second annual Boots and Barbecue Gala on Saturday, April 23, 2005, at Swingin’ D Ranch in Parker. This is an event you won’t want to miss! It will be an evening of dinner, dancing, entertainment, and loads of fun. More information to come as the date approaches.
J. YORK CUSTOM BOOKBINDING
Congratulations to Chamber member Joseph York of J. York Custom Bookbinding on his recent 2004 Ronald Reagan Republican Gold Medal Award. House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex), NRCC Chairman Tom Reynolds (R-NY) and the National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) announced Joseph R. York as the winner of the Ronald Reagan Republican Gold Medal.
Mr. York was selected based on his continuous support of the Republican Party, outstanding leadership in business and for displaying a commitment to President Ronald Regan’s vision for an entrepreneurial America.
Only a selected group of business and professional individuals were nominated to receive the award before the awards selection committee reached a final decision.
Congressman Tom Reynolds, Chairman of the NRCC, commented that “Mr. York has served as an Honorary Chairman of the Business Advisory Council and has provided much needed support. This award could not have gone to a more deserving candidate”.
Congratulations Joseph York.
OTHER NEWS
THE GREATER DALLAS HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
The Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Texas Rangers Baseball Club and Ben E. Keith Beers invite you to a business networker. Meet Texas Rangers players, coaches & announcers, Tuesday, January 25, 2005, 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. in the Ben E. Keith Beers Hospitality room 1805 Record Crossing, Dallas, TX 75235. Refreshments and light fare will be served. For more information, please call Karin Morris at 817-436-5933. Please RSVP to the Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber at www.gdhcc.com. Food provided by Pancho Tacos –Jaime y Lelly Ariza – Owners – 817-801-0133.
