Kicking off Texas Travel and Tourism Week in Galveston

Today, along with a few of the fine staff members of the Texas Bureau of Economic Development and Tourism, I had the pleasure of visiting Galveston. We traveled there to kick off Texas Travel and Tourism Week, which is May 9 through May 17, 2009, as proclaimed by the Governor. It coincides with National Travel and Tourism Week.

All week, cities, states and travel-related businesses nationwide celebrate the value and economic impact of travel and tourism.  And in the Lone Star State, we have a lot to celebrate, as Texas continues to be one of the top three travel destinations in the U.S. 
In 2007, travelers generated nearly $57 billion in direct travel spending in the state, and the travel industry employed 534,000 Texans. Travel expenditures generated $2.8 billion in state taxes and $994 million in local taxes. This summer, and all year long, I encourage Texans to get out and explore our state and to enjoy all that Texas offers.

With that, I’ll leave you with this picture of the beach, so that you can see that Galveston and the Texas Coast are recovering and open for business and for use as inspiration for your vacation planning.

Galveston Island

Chatting with Evan Smith of Texas Monthly

This month, Texas Monthly published its first “Ideas Issue.” The cover story compiles “eighty-two various and visionary ideas for how to make Texas a better place.” It includes suggestions from preachers, teachers, actors and musicians and everyone between, as well as one about preservation from yours truly. It was a lot of fun and I was honored to participate in the big brainstorm.

Recently, I enjoyed a chat with Texas Monthly’s president and editor in chief Evan Smith about my Big Idea. The interview ran as a companion program for the Ideas Issue on KUT 90.5 FM. Click here to listen to the interview.

Cooking with Chef Stephan Pyles, during the Fifth Annual Buffalo Gap Wine and Food Summit

If you’ve been keeping up with the blog, you know we’ve been busy lately with a variety of events, including participating in the Texas Medal of Arts and rolling out the new Texas Governor’s Mansion curriculum (see below).

The fun continued this weekend, when I emceed a cooking demonstration, “Cooking with Chef Pyles and Friends!” I enjoyed donning a chef’s jacket for the day and watching award-winning Texas chef Stephan Pyles work his magic in the kitchen.

When I was asked to participate, I have to admit, I was more than a little intimidated! After all, Chef Pyles is considered the founding father of Southwestern Cuisine.

Thanks for the pointers Chef Pyles!

Kicking off the new Texas Governor’s Mansion Curriculum in East Texas

Today we traveled to three school in East Texas to roll out the new Texas Governor’s Mansion Curriculum. We visited the fourth grade Texas history students at Thomas J. Rusk Elementary School in Nacogdoches, Central Middle School in Nederland and South Marshall Elementary School in Marshall.

Students singing “Texas Our Texas” at TJ Rusk Elementary in Nacogdoches.

Sally Hunter, a teacher at Highland Park Elementary School, Austin Independent School District, and I presented a brief, but lively overview of the new “This House is Your House,” social studies curriculum to the students.

The curriculum, created by Hunter, emphasizes the historic importance of Texas Governor’s Mansion. The curriculum was developed with the Texas Education Agency, the Texas Governor’s Mansion Restoration Fund and AISD.

As you probably know, the landmark structure was heavily damaged by fire in June 2008 and work is under way to restore this Texas treasure. Within days after an arsonist started the fire at the Mansion, Hunter began writing “This House is Your House.” After approaching the local preservation organizations and TEA, a focus group was assembled and the curriculum was born. “This House is Your House,” is a joint project of the TEA, the TGMRF, AISD and the State Bar of Texas. It is posted permanently on TEA and TGMRF Web sites and available to teachers for free!

Visit www.tea.state.tx.us and www.texasgovernorsmansion.org.

Texas Medal of Arts Honoree Luncheon

This week, the Texas Cultural Trust Council celebrates the Texas Medal of Arts Awards. The Awards honor citizens’ talents and those whose generosity has enhanced artistic opportunities across the state (click the Texas Medal of Arts Awards link above for a list of the 2009 honorees). I was invited to speak during a couple of the events surrounding the awards, such as the honorees luncheon, which was held at the beautiful Austin home of Donna and Steve Hicks.

Like many people, being a supporter of the arts is my way of participating in community. I’m truly in awe of the work created by this year’s honorees. Their contributions to our state are woven into the fabric of our Texas heritage. It is an important part of our past and an integral part of our future. 

Each honoree represents a different medium and a different and unique interpretation of life art and life. They serve as role models to young Texans who look up to them and who follow their work. And they prove to these young artists that they too can achieve their dreams of becoming filmmakers, musicians, writers, photographers, architects, art educators and actors.

During the luncheon, we were treated to a performance by Robert Casillas and Rodolfo Lopez of Dos Generaciones. Casillas is a high school senior from San Antonio and an accordion prodigy who has been playing since he was 7 years old. Lopez is a retired educator, a resident artist with the Texas Commission on the Arts and founder of the Conjunto class at Teatro de Artes de Juan Seguin. The two have been playing together as for about 10 years and have performed in venues throughout Texas and into Mexico. 

Thank you to all of the honorees for all that they do for Texas, for all that they create and most of all, for sharing it with us. 

Visiting with middle school AVID program students in Fort Worth

Today, I had the pleasure of visiting with and giving a talk to the AVID (Advancement Via Individual Determination) program students in Fort Worth. The event was held at Creekview Middle School and included students from Highland, Prairie Vista and Wayside middle schools. It’s always an honor for me to be invited to speak to students.

The program is an educational system designed for low-income students to encourage and prepare them for college enrollment.  In the 2008 to 2009 school year, AVID was implemented into four middle schools with 150 students enrolled. During the 2007 to 2008 school year, AVID 98 percent of senior students passed all TAKS sections and 83 percent applied to and were accepted to a four-year post secondary institution.

It was an inspiring day with some of Texas’ brightest and most enthusiastic young citizens. 

WTAMU works to increase number of nursing students benefitting from scholarship program

On Wednesday, I met with West Texas A&M officials to discuss its nursing school endowment. It’s always a pleasure to meet with officials from my alma mater!

Several years ago, the university started the Anita Thigpen Perry Nursing Excellence Scholarship program which awards two nursing students a scholarship each year. WTAMU officials are raising awareness and raising money to augment the endowment. With the nursing shortage we face, WTAMU wants to increase the number of students who benefit from the scholarships. I commend their efforts.

WTAMU hits a milestone this year as it celebrates its centennial year. The university has a number of exciting and fun events planned throughout the year to commemorate its 100th birthday. Visit the university’s Web site at www.wtamu.edu for more information and to keep up with the celebrations.

Texas Society DAR unveil Governor’s Mansion commemorative pin

Over the next couple of days, we have some very exciting news related to the Texas Governor’s Mansion and the Texas Governor’s Mansion Restoration Fund. Stay tuned for this announcement.

In the meantime, I wanted to acknowledge the Texas Society Daughters of the American Revolution (www.tsdar.org) for two reasons.

First, the Texas Society Daughters of the American Revolution and the Pamela Wright Collection, a Texas company, have produced a “Texas’ Front Porch” Mansion pin.

A portion of all sales of this beautiful pin will benefit the Mansion restoration.  The pin can also be worn as a pendant.  Please visit www.pamelawright.com or call 713-780-3785 for more information.

Additionally, through individual chapter donations and pin sales the Texas Society DAR has raised more than $50,000, which will be donated to the TGMRF. This group of proud Texas women is dedicated to preservation and we thank them for their hard work and dedication.

Pharr kicks off centennial celebration

What a whirlwind week! Tuesday, we were in Rockwall and West to celebrate their Main Street designations (see below). Today, we went down to South Texas to help the people of Pharr kick off their centennial celebration.

I had the pleasure of delivering the keynote address and having my picture taken with city officials and members of the community who have contributed significantly to the history of Pharr, through service or their contribution to the city’s rich heritage.

Did you know that Pharr is a “Triple Crown City” and receive the Preserve America City, National Main Street City and All-America City awards?

Congratulations Pharr and happy 100th birthday.

Rockwall and West receive Main Street designation honors

Despite sometimes pouring rain, we managed to get through the 2008 Main Street City celebrations without a hitch! I’ve done more than 30 of these tours all over Texas, and I can honestly say, I still thoroughly enjoy it.

We joined the Texas Historical Commission and tour sponsor, the Independent Bankers Association of Texas, for stops in Rockwall and West. Growing up in a small town, I know the vital role downtown plays in a community and being a Main Street city means citizens recognize that downtown is still the heart and soul of their community.

I had the honor of delivering the keynote address at each celebration and unveiled the first architectural rendering for the downtown renovation. Then we joined the residents in each city for a lively reception.

The Main Street program is a revitalization program for historic downtown and neighborhood commercial districts. It has assisted more than 140 communities throughout the state and is one of the largest and most successful in the nation. The program has resulted in the private reinvestment of more than $1.47 billion in Texas downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts, the creation of more than 24,000 jobs and the establishment or expansion of more than 6,000 downtown businesses.

All of that, and it’s so much fun!

For more information, visit www.thc.state.tx.us.

Texas Governor’s Mansion plate benefits Mansion restoration

Hello and welcome back for another edition of the Texas Our Texas blog. Today, I thought I’d tell you about the Texas Governor’s Mansion plate. As you know, we are continuously working on the Texas Governor’s Mansion Restoration Fund, so that we can restore the Mansion to its original grandeur. The State Preservation Board is currently going through the process of asking the Texas Legislature to appropriate funds to help restore the Mansion (scroll down to read more).

We are excited that Varsity China, a Texas company, has produced a Governor’s Mansion plate as the third in their Texas Series, which includes the Capitol and the Alamo. A portion of all sales will benefit the Mansion restoration.

These plates are not just for display. They make lovely dinnerware and are lead-free, dishwasher-safe and microwave-safe. Also, they are made in America and come with a letter from yours truly.

Visit www.varsitychina.com or call 866-532-4462 and order for Easter, Mother’s Day or upcoming birthdays and anniversaries.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Texas Conference for Women planning in full swing

Hello there and welcome back. It’s week two of the Texas Our Texas blog. Not only are we excited about that small milestone, but we also are energized because we are in full swing organizing the upcoming Texas Conference for Women.

The conference isn’t until November 12, but we have been planning for months in anticipation of the 10-year anniversary. If you’ve never been, the Texas Conference for Women is a life-changing day created to give women of all generations and backgrounds the tools they need to succeed in the workplace and in life.

This event, which is a joint effort between Rick and myself, offers extraordinary keynote and breakout session speakers on everything from finance and health care to leadership and career development. This year, we are thrilled to announce our partnership with career expert Tory Johnson and Women for Hire to host the ReWork Career Fair at the conference.

Tory Johnson is the founder and CEO of Women For Hire, which produces recruiting events for women. Known as the “job search guru and workplace fairy godmother,” you may recognize Johnson from her work as the workplace contributor on ABC’s Good Morning America. The career fair will feature local and national employers and recruiters with current employment opportunities in Texas. Also, expert speakers will present workshops on career development and advancement, as well as practical advice, such as resume development and networking tips.

We are still working on the speaker lineup for the rest of the conference, so we’ll post news as it develops. I can assure you though, this year’s conference will knock your socks off!

Since it’s Monday, we’ll wrap it up for now. Thanks for stopping by and have a great rest of the day!