Chamber Kitten

It's a beautiful morning in McAllen, Texas!!!

Just a quick update on C.C. She has a new home in McAllen. I have taken her home with me due to some employees that found out they are allergic to cats. I have had her at home for 4 days now and she is starting to feel comfortable enough to explore her new surroundings. I also have a 2 year old Siamese cat (Fergie) so I am trying to get them to become friends. I hope it all works out and we can be one big happy family. I will write more later and maybe post some photos of the two hugging!

2 Big Events for Filmmakers

Texas Filmmakers' Production Fund Workshop

When: Saturday, May 16th at 3:00 - 4:30pm

Where: McAllen Chamber of Commerce
1200 Ash Ave
McAllen, TX 78541

Cost: Free

Since 1996, the Austin Film Society's Texas Filmmakers' Production Fund has supported Texas filmmakers by giving out $930,000 in cash, goods and services to 265 film and video projects. The deadline for the 2009 cycle is June 1st and if you are a filmmaker who has resided in Texas for at least one year, you are eligible to apply for up to $15,000 in funding for your project.

At this workshop, the Austin Film Society's Director of Artist Services, Bryan Poyser, will take you through the application process step-by-step.

www.austinfilm.org

Texas Film Round-Up offers Free Digitalization Program for RGV residents

The Texas Archive of the Moving Image (TAMI) brings its new statewide traveling educational program, the Texas Film Round-Up, to the Cine El Rey in McAllen on Friday, May 15th from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m Working to preserve Texas-related film and video, TAMI will be on-site at all locations to offer free film and video digitization, to screen unique footage of the Rio Grande Valley, and to display their traveling exhibit, Preserving Memories: Texas’ Moving Image Legacy.

The cornerstone of the Texas Film Round-Up is TAMI’s free digitization program, which is available to anyone with Texas-related film or video who is willing to contribute an electronic copy of their materials to TAMI’s online library: www.texasarchive.org/library. Donors can drop off their film and video at each Round-Up location. After digitization is complete, TAMI will return the originals to contributors, along with two DVD copies of their materials and information on how to keep those materials safe. TAMI will bring their digitization equipment to all locations to demonstrate the process.

The Texas Film Round-Up kicks off on Friday night in McAllen with a screening at the Cine El Rey Theater. The evening will feature a series of border-themed films including shorts from the archive of the CineSol Film Festival, and highlights from TAMI’s archival collection. Screening starts at 8 p.m.

The Texas Archive of the Moving Image is an independent non-profit organization founded in 2002 to discover, preserve and make accessible Texas film heritage. The Texas Film Round-up is offered in partnership with the Office of the Governor’s Texas Film Commission.

More information on the Texas Film Round-Up can be found at www.texasfilmroundup.org or by contacting TAMI at (512) 485-3073 or round-up@texasarchive.org.

May 15, 2009
Cine El Rey
311 South 17th St., McAllen, TX 78501
6 p.m to 11 p.m.
8 p.m. – Featured Screening

For more information, contact:
Annabell Cortina
956-682-2871
acortina@mcallencvb.com

Sports @ a Wine Lounge?

RUSH (Wine Tasting Lounge)

I'm so pleased to see another reference about RUSH! It's nice to know this local business is getting some good feedback, I certainly have had a really positive experience with them in my first couple of visits. A couple of nights ago, my significant other and I took advantage of his night off and combined a romantic dinner with (what else) the Houston - Portland basketball game.
Finishing our dinner, we headed over to a popular McAllen sports bar, but after waiting at our table for 15 minutes with no hope of service or acknowledgement, we'd given up on our "big date," and watching our favorite basketball team. Calling it a night, we started to drive home with me pouting in the passenger seat. (Don't judge me too harshly….that was our first date in months, and I was a wee bit disappointed! ;)
As we drove past RUSH, we decided to drop in so I could show my date McAllen's newest venue. A wine connoisseur, he rationalized that while we might not have the basketball game, we could console ourselves with good wine and use my newly acquired RUSH card. (The wine "fountains" in this venue pour out an ounce of wine by scanning your RUSH card and detracting the $ amt.- Very smooth! and it lets you spend the balance over multiple visits.)
A quiet Tuesday night, our recent experience at RUSH was phenomenal. From the moment we walked in, we were greeted and treated like guests in a posh, private home, not diners at a crowded restaurant. The best part was: there were even flat-screen TVs, and the owner happily put the Houston game on for us. Cute date, wine, basketball game, and 1 classy atmosphere coming right up! Our night had instantly corrected itself.
The service was amazing, and the final bill was surprisingly low. (the card helps!) As I sat on the leather couch watching our own screen and sipping on a beer (ironically I wasn't in the mood for wine, but the venue has lots of beer and sangria options, too), I felt like we had just discovered a new secret. I had never felt so comfortably elegant while watching a sports game or had my own personal pair of cocktail waitresses. There was complimentary wi-fi, making it the perfect spot for business professionals looking to wrap up their day or host a client. The venue has just the right balance of sophistication and comfort. Wanting to be intimate or conversational? …socializing or working? ….RUSH offers a great blended atmosphere.
So Thank you RUSH, for saving my semi-annual date night. The Rockets may not have won that night, but we sure did!

*FYI: learned the hard way- RUSH is closed Mondays. :(
**Typically a great, quiet niche during the week, starting Thursday RUSH becomes a popular social outlet for young and established business professionals and wine "buffs".

Sending Your Child or Student to McAllen? Read This!

...Think about it and you might be inviting yourself along!

Over a couple thousand students attended the Texas Health Occupation Students of America 2009 Annual Conference in early April in the New McAllen Convention Center!

The overall event was a wonderful success with some amazing feedback. There was no doubt the students were enjoying themselves immensely! Having spent time in San Antonio at an annual TASBO conference a few months ago, I got the opportunity to talk to several parents from all over Texas who were sending or have sent their children on an overnight trip to McAllen for conferences/events like HOSA conference. The success and feedback of McAllen's 2009 HOSA conference has helped me appreciate and validate the great conversations I had while at TASBO. In their responses it was clear that both group's parents felt good and excited about sending their children or students to McAllen for an overnight event.
It was nice to be able to tell them (and hear them say) that their child's experience(s) in McAllen is not only SAFE (amongst a "familia," secure community), but while in McAllen, their youth is able to interact with a rich, fun, and unique culture! And you should feel good about that fact that McAllen is young families and adults growing and building amongst its intercultural blend.
It's exciting to think that those TASBO attendees (who – I'm sure - I overwhelmed with my passionate talk of McAllen's new changes and highlights), walked away with our McAllen brochures, pictures, information, and mementos. And the more I work with visitors and conferences, the more confident I am that their new materials will no doubt result in the same, fun, enriching experience our HOSA students had!
After-all, The City of McAllen is known for its hard-working people...now come find out how we reward hard-workers like you...come get spoiled! ;)

INTERESTED IN FINDING OUT MORE ABOUT MCALLEN?

Post a comment, shoot me an email at jsimpson@mcallencvb.com, or pick up the phone and dial 956.682.2871. I'd love to send you- your own, complimentary McAllen packet - tailored to what you're interested in!

But I should warn you! After learning about McAllen...you might just be turning your child's school trip into a family vacation or weekend get-away!

End of April at Incubator

Music After Hours at the Archer Park on Friday, May 1st will feature Adam Wratten, Heavy Heavy and Highway 7. An excellent show that you do not want to miss. KVEO TV Channel 23 will be having auditions for the Valley's Got Talent on Saturday afternoon from 1 to 5 at the Incubator. Don't forget to visit www.mcallenart.com for a listing of upcoming events, local artist and venues. And remember that all MAC Grant Applications are due in by Friday, May 1st, so make sure you visit www.mcallenartscouncil.com and download a copy. For more information on this or anything else, contact Greg at 687-2787.

Texas Association of Staffing in town

Today, McAllen Welcomes Katie Hill, Executive Director of the Texas Association of Staffing. Katie lives in Galveston and is a "surviver" of last year's devastating hurricane. We stayed in touch with her throughout the aftermath and are grateful that she didn't sustain more damage. What a trouper! Today, the Valley members of TAS will meet for lunch in the Chamber board room and profit from a presentation by W.T. "Tommy Simmons Legal Counsel to the Texas Workforce Commission. Attendees will learn what staffing firms and their clients need to know in 2009 and the impact of the stimulus package for Texas. Just prior to the meeting, we are attending the ribbon cutting for Star Staffing owned by Cindy Arredondo. Star Staffing serves the Rio Grande Valley's staffing needs.

2009 Southwestern Texas Synod Assembly at McAllen Convention Center

The 2009 Southwestern Texas Synod Assembly will be held May 15-17, 2009, at the beautiful new McAllen Convention Center in McAllen, Texas. On behalf of the Rio Grande Valley Conference of the Southwestern Texas Synod of the ELCA and the 2009 Assembly Planning Team, we wish to extend you a warm greeting from the Rio Grande Valley.

Many of you have been to assembly meetings before, and for others, this may be your first time as a delegate. Regardless, we hope to make this a different and exciting experience. Along with the usual business meetings of the Synod, there will be inspirational bible studies, multicultural worship services, as well as a chance to experience the diverse cultures that thrive in this part of South Texas. This “Assembly Without Walls” is sure to be an exciting opportunity for all who attend, as there will be events scheduled on Saturday afternoon to visit sites in the area. We hope to illuminate our theme, “United in Ministry - God’s Work, Our Hands,” as together we share the sights, enjoy the sounds, and taste the flavor of the Rio Grande Valley.

We look forward to seeing all of you in McAllen.

Come and enjoy!

Jan Demro
Patricia Larson
2009 Planning Team Co-Chairs