october - alicetx.org 09.pdf · 12/1/2009 · ans were enshrined into the museum’s hall of fame....

Annual Skeet Shoot registrations available

Team and indi-vidual applications for the Alice Chamber of Com-merce Second An-nual Skeet Shoot on Saturday, Octo-ber 10, 2009 at the Jim Wells County Fairgrounds are still available. “We are getting many calls about

the event and are looking for a great turn-out,” event chairperson Virginia Garcia said. The Skeet Shoot will be a four-person team. With any of the four gauge shot-guns, 12, 20, 28 and 410, being used. The event will begin at 9 a.m. with par-ticipants opting to purchase practice rounds. Registration will begin at 7:30 a.m. Entry fee is $300 per team with various awards being given. There will be a silent auction as well. Awards will be given to the top three team/individual finishers in the competi-tion as well as a shotgun being awarded in a cut-throat competition at the end of the regulation competition. “Last year, the event was very success-ful,” Chamber Director Juan Navejar said. “We expect a bigger a crowd this year.” Entry forms are available at the Alice Chamber of Commerce. For more information, contact the Chamber at 361-664-3454

See MUSEUM, 4

business tradition service community agriculture oil & gas growth

Official Publication of the Alice Chamber of Commerce

Third Coast expands museum

Second Annual Alice Chamber of Commerce Skeet Shoot

Sat. Oct. 10th Jim Wells

County Fairgrounds

Maxine Flournoy had the honor of cutting the green ribbon opening the wing of the Third Coast Squadron Mu-seum located at the Alice International Airport. The ribbon cutting set the prece-dence to an afternoon where seven veter-ans were enshrined into the Museum’s Hall of Fame. Many guests were on hand and ea-gerly waited behind Mrs. Flournoy as she snipped the ribbon in two. “What an honor to cut the ribbon,” Flournoy said. Enshrined into the Hall of Fame were

Many guests were on hand for the Third Coast Squadron Museum expansion grand opening and Hall of Fame Induction ceremonies.

BB U S I N E S SU S I N E S S

Flight Officer Tom Mathis, Capt. Cecil Carlisle, Col Charles Borchard, Sgt. Garrett McLead, Gen Marc Cisneros, PFC Gilberto Vera and PFC Pablo Val-verde. The Museum provides excellent edu-cational opportunities with curriculum for students of all ages from elementary to high school and college levels. Edu-cation comes with historical signifi-cance of NAS Corpus Christi, Alice and South Texas from World War II to

OCTOBER 2009

“Alice Business Today” published by the Alice Chamber of Commerce

From the Chamber I’d like to invite everyone to our Second Annual Skeet Shoot com-ing up this month. Last year, we had a great turnout and expect a big-ger one this year. We still have slots available for teams and individu-als. You can register on the day of the event on Saturday, Oct. 10th beginning at 7:30 a.m. competition will begin at 9 a.m. A big thank you goes out to our sponsors who purchased ads for our poster. We would like to welcome our five new board members who will

join the board of directors in January. They are Dr. Salvador Cavazos, Wayne Shoe-maker, Paul Rycroft, Martin Ornellas and Michael Garcia. Congratulations. We have another Chamber Mixer this month at Del Cielo Home Health. I encourage all our members to attend, bring your business cards, business brochures and network your business. The October Mixer will be held on Thursday, Oct. 15th from 5:30 - 7 p.m. October is a busy month in our area, we invite everyone to all the events happening around town. The Street Rods of Alice will hold their annual Rod Run on Oct. 3-4, fol-lowed by the Chamber Skeet Shoot, St. Joseph Church Jamaica and the Jim Wells County Fair. These are all great family events. So go out and support them. Just a reminder to our members, the 2010 Investment statements will go out by email and mail this month. We rely on your investment dues for our day-to-day operations. Without your investments, the Chamber cannot function.

Agapito “Gap” Alaniz Jr., Chamber Board President

2009 Chamber Leadership

Executive Committee

Gap Alaniz President First Community Bank

Yvette Johnson Immediate Past President/VP-CVB Individual Member

Virginia Garcia V.P. AJWC-EDC President Elect WorkForce Solutions of the Coastal Bend

Nena Pitts V.P. - Membership CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Alice

Rito Silva V.P. - Civic Coastal Bend College

Hector Hinojosa Treasurer City of Alice Board of Directors

Mark Alaniz Love Chrysler Jeep of Alice

Dee Dee Arismendez Home Interior Ind. Contractor

Mark Casanova CHRISTUS Spohn Alice

Lawrence Cornelius Century 21

Michael Day Individual Member

Servando Garza Coym, Rhemet & Associates

J.R. Gonzalez Wells Fargo Bank

R. David Guerrero JWC Dist. Clerk

Robert Molina State Farm Insurance - Robert Molina

Mirka Pena Dixie Iron Works/MSI

Ex-Officio Ray De Los Santos City of Alice

Staff

Juan A. Navejar Jr. Chamber Director

Veronica Castillo Administrative Assistant

CHAMBER MIXER OCT. 15th Del Cielo Home Health

Alice Police Chief Danny Bueno addresses the audience during the Alice VFW Post’s 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony. These was one of several days of remembrance con-ducted throughout Jim Wells County.

9/11 CEREMONY


Your First Step to Success

Coastal Bend College Alice Center

704 Coyote Trail - Alice, Texas 78332 (361) 664-2981 - Toll Free 1-866-891-2981 - www.coastalbend.edu

Customized Training Available for the South Texas Workforce

SEE AWARD, Page 8

The Texas Association of Community Health Centers (TACHC) presented its Legislative Champion Award to Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa for his work dur-ing the 81st Legislature to bring more doctors to South Texas and the Coastal Bend. During an event hosted by the Com-munity Action Corporation of South Texas in Alice, Sen. Hinojosa’s leader-ship and commitment in the passage of physician’s loan repayment legislation were highlighted and applauded. The legislation takes a major step toward addressing a critical physician shortage across the state, particularly in rural and border areas of the state. Most counties in the Coastal Bend and South Texas are designated as Health Professional Short-age Areas. “Thanks to the leadership of Sen. Hinojosa, as many as 225 primary care physicians per year will be providing health care in underserved areas of Texas in the years ahead,” TACHC Ex-ecutive Director Jose E. Camacho said. “Access to health care in both urban and rural areas remains critical as our popu-lation grows. Sen. Hinojosa’s efforts and all those who supported the physician loan repayment legislation help assure healthcare will be available for those who need it.” Sen. Hinojosa authored the senate version of the legislation and carried the final bill (HB2154) through the senate. He was instrumental in the overwhelm-ing 29-2 vote in the senate to pass the physician loan repayment program. The program will be available to primary care physicians who agree to practice in underserved areas of the state and will assist in paying off student loans amassed during medical school training. Medical school graduates carry an aver-age debt as high as $160,000 in student loans. “New doctors coming out of medical schools now have an incentive to prac-tice primary care in South Texas and other areas of great need,” said Hinojosa. “It was a privilege to work with my col-leagues on a bill that will have such a positive impact for health care access.” Through Hinojosa’s invaluable assis-tance, the physician loan repayment pro-posal made it through an extremely chal-

Physician shortage measure earns Sen. Hinojosa award

lenging legislative session. In June, Governor Rick Perry formally signed the physician loan repayment bill into law. The legislation becomes effective Sept. 1, 2009. “House Bill2154 opens up a window of opportunity to allow highly qualified professionals to more readily practice in medically underserved areas,” said Diana France Bill, Ph.D., Director of Health Programs for the Community Action Corporation of South Texas. “This program will give us an excellent

recruiting tool to keep our health care delivery sites in Jim Wells, Brooks, Bee, Duval, Kleberg and San Patricio coun-ties fully staffed with physicians to serve the community.” More than half of Texas counties are in need of primary care physicians. In 2008, 26 Texas counties had no primary care physician. More than 110 Texas counties – rural and urban – have been designated as Health Professional Short-

The Texas Association of Community Health Centers (TACHC) presented its Legislative Champion Award to Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa for his work during the 81st Legislature to bring more doctors to South Texas and the Coastal Bend.

Did you know the Chamber/CVB has…Maps, brochures, phone books, info on attractions and other cities.


Alice Ambassadors

Melva Alegria

Dee Dee Arismendez

Nettie Cornelius

Michael De Leon

Manuel Galindo (Life Member)

Albert Gonzales

Cynthia Hinojosa

Melissa Jaramillo

Debbie Micallef

Bruce Menking

Tem Miller

Rachel Munoz

Dene Murphey

Delma Palacios

Nena Pitts (Life Member)

David Silva

Margaret Smith (Life Member)

Ellen Startz

Jack Walker

Clare Wonders

Emeritus

Joe Ash

Ralph Gomez

Pedro Jasso

Johnny Rivera

• P r o d u c tio n T e s t in g• O ffsh o r e S e r v ic e s• B r a id e d a n d S lic k l in e S e r v ic e s• F r a c F lo w b a c k s• H y d r a u lic C h o k e M a n ifo ld s• F r a c V a lv e s• P ip e l in e “ P ig g in g ” S e p a r a to r s• C a p illa r y T u b in g S e r v ic e s• P -V -T L a b o r a to r y• P -V -T S im u la t io n s• H y d r o c a r b o n L a b o r a to r y• R e s e r v o ir F lu id S a m p lin g• P r e s s u r e T r a n s ie n t A n a ly s e s

C o r p o r a t e H e a d q u a r t e r s1 0 0 0 F E S C O A v e n u e

A l i c e , T e x a s 7 8 3 3 23 6 1 -6 6 4 -3 4 7 9

w w w .fe s c o in c .c o m

Our Mission The mission of the Alice Chamber of Commerce

is to promote the economic and community development in Alice, Jim Wells County

and the surrounding trade area.

Alice Mayor and Chamber Board Member Rito Silva along with Councilwomen Yvette Johnson and Dorella Elizondo welcome Former Dallas Cowboy and Hall of Famer Mel Renfro to Alice during the Alice Boys & Girls Club Steak & Burger Dinner.

ALICE WELCOME


The Jim Wells County Fair Associa-tion marks its 72nd Annual celebration at the JWC Fairgrounds on Oct. 21-24. Promoting homemaking, agriculture and live stock production has been the focal point of the fair association. The 72nd Annual JWC Fair kicks off with the opening ceremonies on Wednesday, October 21st at 9 a.m. in the Show Arena. The annual parade begins at 4:30 p.m. from Schallert Elementary School. The Queen’s contest tops the evening festivities with the crowning of the new royalty. Of course, plenty of food, fun, animals and carnival are on tap each day at the fairgrounds. The talent show is scheduled for 7 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 22nd at under the covered pavilion. Different age divisions can compete with trophies awarded in each division. The Fifth Annual JWC Ranch Rodeo is set for Friday, Oct. 23rd beginning at 7:30 p.m. Entry fee is $400 for a 4-person team with one alternate. Events include wild hog loading, cow milking, feed races and steer loading. Cash prices will be awarded for first, second and third places. Kids event include a calf scramble, stick horse race and boot race. The Pee Wee Goat Show is also scheduled for Saturday with weigh-ins beginning at 9 a.m. For schedule of events, visit www.alicetx.org.

JWC kicks off 72nd Annual Fair

With Cash for Clunkers over and many families on tight budgets, making timely vehicle payments can sometimes become overwhelming. Unfortunately, vehicle repossessions are on the rise and having a car repossessed hinders more than just a car owner’s mobility. It has a severe impact on credit scores which limits the ability to get loans or credit cards for up to seven years. Better Business Bureau advises troubled car owners on how to avoid losing their ve-hicle and their good credit standing. According to the American Bankers Association, the number of direct auto loans that were at least 30 days delin-quent increased from 2.03 percent to 3.01 percent during the first quarter of 2009 and delinquent auto loans through dealers hit 3.4 percent in March. As a result, the number of repossessed vehi-cles jumped 12 percent to 1.67 million nationally in 2008 and is expected to increase by another 5 percent in 2009, according to Manheim Consulting. “There are options out there for con-sumers to take advantage of in order to keep their vehicle,” said Carrie A. Hurt, President and CEO of BBB serving Cen-tral, Coastal and Southwest Texas. “The worst thing you can do when falling be-hind on a car payment is to ignore the problem.” If a vehicle is repossessed, the finance company will “accelerate” the note which means the entire balance of the note is due in order to get the car back. Since many consumers may not be able

Byron W. Blair, P.C.

Certified Public Accountant

1315 E. Main, Suite 101 P. O. Box 211

Alice, Texas 78332

Office 664-6541 Fax 664-6544

Residence 664-4685

Cornerstone Member 2004

www.prosperitybanktx.com

1200 E. Main Alice 664-5446

361-661-1580 (24-Hour Fast Line Free, Secure Internet Banking

R

R

Page 4 “Alice Business Today” published by the Alice Chamber of Commerce

to pay the full amount, some companies allow the consumer to make the past-due payments in full in exchange for their vehicle. If this does not work, the finance com-pany will often sell the vehicle at an auc-tion, and it is usually bought for less than the outstanding loan. Unfortunately, this means the consumer is responsible for the difference between the total amount due and the auction selling price which is called a “deficiency balance.” BBB recommends car owners consider take the following steps if they fall behind on car payments: Contact your lender. According to the American Financial Services Association (AFSA), auto repossessions cost creditors about $8,000. Therefore, the best case scenario for both you and your lender is to keep you in your car and making pay-ments. To that end, lenders will often work with troubled borrowers to develop more agreeable payment plans. Some possible options, according to AFSA, are loan refinancing, extending or deferring payments, changing payment due dates and waiving fees. Cut costs elsewhere. For many con-sumers who live where public transporta-tion is scarce, a car is a necessity for get-ting to work, the grocery store or school. If you can’t afford to lose your car, con-sider the items you pay for that you can afford to do without. Cable television, eating out and new clothes are just a few examples. Choose a less expensive vehicle. If

you can pay off the loan on your vehicle by selling it, consider finding a less ex-pensive car with monthly payments that are within your means. Do your research before enlisting any debt management help. Some businesses offer assistance in debt man-agement and repo prevention. Be ex-tremely wary of offers and sales pitches that require upfront fees and always re-search the company with BBB. Consider enlisting the help of a credit counseling agency as they offer inexpensive, and in some cases free, guidance on how to manage money. You can find a credit counseling agency near you through the National Foundation for Credit Counsel-ing at www.nfcc.org. For more advice from BBB on manag-ing personal finances and debt, visit www.bbb.org. BBB's mission is to be the leader in advanc-ing marketplace trust. BBB accomplishes this mission by creating a community of trustwor-thy businesses, setting standards for market-place trust, encouraging and supporting best practices, celebrating marketplace role mod-els and denouncing substandard marketplace behavior. Businesses that earn BBB Accredi-tation contractually agree and adhere to the organization's high standards of ethical busi-ness behavior. BBB provides objective ad-vice, free business BBB Reliability Reports and charity BBB Wise Giving Reports, as well as educational information on topics affecting marketplace trust. To further pro-mote trust, BBB also offers complaint and dispute resolution support for consumers and businesses.

BBB advice on managing your auto loan

Your company celebrating an anniversary,

change of ownership or Relocation?

Contact the Chamber for a ribbon

cutting ceremony.


Wells Fargo is a proud Cornerstone Member of the

Alice Chamber of Commerce

Alice Main Alice Medical 601 E. Main Street 1910 E. Main Street 361-668-2400 3 6 1 -668-1000

WELLS FARGO


SEE UNIQUE, Page 8

If you’ve put your hu-man resource duties in the hands of your office manager here’s a simple test you to take. Do you know if your office ad-ministrator has the knowledge to protect you from employee liti-gation? Is this person a CPA and a PHR (Professional in Human Resources)? Do you

know if this employee is up to speed on all the changing employee worksite laws? Does this person have ongoing annual training in all areas of these re-sponsibilities? I recently met a prospective client that said he was thinking about hiring an assistant to help with the task of human resource duties. I’m pretty sure that he planned to pay somewhere around $8.00 or less per hour. For about the same amount of money, or less, he could sign an agreement with a highly accredited Professional Employer Organization (PEO). Would you think it more prudent to hire a PEO that has 100's of years of combined experience and highly trained and certified professionals to handle every aspect of duties pertaining to worksite employees? Or, should he hire someone with general clerical duties, a.k.a. office management experience? We live in a world where simple job offers and termination letters could be

turned into claims of discrimination or violations of an employment law. While it is true that employees are at-will, merely having at-will status does not protect the employer from a claim by a disgruntled employee. Every employer action taken, from written documents to disciplinary actions or termination, needs careful attention. Wage and hour lawsuits are one of the fastest growing employment claims in the federal court system today. Employ-ers might need assistance in properly classifying their employees as “exempt” or “non-exempt” for overtime purposes. It doesn’t cut it to say an employee is exempt if the company pays the em-ployee on a salary basis; it’s based on their duties and responsibilities. You might need professional help to set pol-icy on the time spent working before and after the workday. It does not matter if the employee was told not to work, it’s whether the company allowed the em-ployee to work overtime hours. Review your break time and lunch breaks, too. If your employee is catching up on work during their lunch break, they must be paid. If that time spent results in a work-week over 40 hours, the employee must be compensated with overtime. The list goes on – child labor laws, vacations, and paid time off policies, etc. It’s imperative to have a qualified person assisting you with payday laws, em-ployee policies, proper disciplinary plans of action, and setting these standards via

a legally compliant and frequently up-dated employee handbook. You are well served to seek guidance on how to prop-erly and effectively manage employees. A quality PEO (Professional Employer Organization) offers this as part of their human resources outsourcing services. It sounds like a no-brainer doesn’t it. The fact of the matter is many business leaders don’t know how the PEO ser-vices can provide effective and efficient human resources support and how their level of cost containment (the predict-able cost for worksite employees) could be very beneficial to their bottom line. Last year many organizations spent additional funds due to retention and recruiting, and expect to do the same this year. PEO’s help with processes to retain key employees and to recruit qualified applicants, these professional services are just part of the robust offering you receive. Having a qualified PEO in your back pocket can sometimes help protect you from an unexpected or expected increases in state unemployment taxes, workers’ compensation insurance costs, health insurance (including other bene-fits and 401k) and any other litigation costs associated with having employees. With a PEO, you’re not going it alone, once you’re on board you are part of a large pool of client companies. Claims could be dissipated amongst all clients therefore protecting you from the rising

Employment law for business owners

Connie Jackson Unique HR

Business Consultant

The first provisions of the Credit CARD Act went into effect on August 20, as part of a reform package that will help protect consumers from ex-cessive credit card fees, retroactive inter-est rate hikes and un-fair, incomprehensible agreements that credit

card companies revise at will. Congress-man Rubén Hinojosa (D-Mercedes) praised the reforms, calling them “necessary consumer protections.” Starting August 20: Credit card companies must provide written notice to consumers at least 45 days in advance of any increases in the


U.S. Congressman

Ruben Hinojosa

UNIQUE, From Page 7

For a color version of this newsletter visit us at www.alicetx.org

AWARD, From Page 3

costs of workers’ compensation insur-ance. In addition, being under this um-brella of client companies could help overcome the problem of substantial increases in health insurance. How old are you employees? Are they aging baby boomers, or are they in childbearing years. Are you looking at any significant rate increases this year? Hmm, is it mak-ing sense yet? HR costs for companies continue to

interest rate (APR) or other significant changes in the terms of a credit card ac-count (fees or finance charges) for exist-ing balances. Credit card companies must inform consumers of their right to cancel the card before rate hikes go into effect. Credit card companies must send state-ments to consumers 21 days before the due date of any payments. “The Credit CARD Act will help put an end to the abusive and deceptive prac-tices that drive so many Americans deeper and deeper into debt,” said Con-gressman Hinojosa. “These provisions include necessary consumer protections, and they are just the first step towards ensuring that hard-working Americans who play by the rules are treated fairly by their credit card companies.”

Come February, many of the new law’s remaining provisions will kick in in-cluding a ban on double-cycle billing and rate hikes on existing balances. The bipartisan Credit CARD Act brings common sense reform and consumer protections to our financial system and is part of our long-term plan to rebuild our economy in a way that is consistent with our values of responsibility and hard work, not high-flying finance schemes. “This landmark legislation gives Americans the information they need to make educated decisions about their financial lives,” said Hinojosa. “It’s about fairness for the American con-sumer, and it’s a crucial part of rebuild-ing our economy stronger than before.”

Congressman praises Credit Card Act

age Areas, meaning those counties do not meet a minimum national threshold of one physician for every 3,500 people. “As we talk about expanding health-care in our country, it’s critical we have physicians in place to meet the demand,” said Camacho. “Work in this session by Sen. Hinojosa and others put Texas in better position to meet the needs of the future.” The health centers operated by Com-

munity Action Corporation of South Texas are among many Federal Qualified Health Centers throughout Texas ex-pected to attract future physicians thanks to the loan repayment incentive. For more information on House Bill 2154 (including interactive features, video interviews, audio podcasts from health-care professionals across Texas), visit www.HealthAcessforTexas.org. The Texas Association of Community Health Centers is a private, non-profit membership association that represents

safety-net health care providers in Texas. Association members include Community and Migrant Health Cen-ters, Health Care for the Homeless Grantees, Public Housing Primary Care Grantees, Ryan White HIV/AIDS Grantees, Health Center Networks and other providers who strive to meet the health care needs of the uninsured and underserved. TACHC serves as the primary care association for the state of Texas.

increase, as the 2006 study of SHRM (Society for Human Resources Manage-ment) says that the average amount of human resource dollars spent per FTE (full time employee) is $1,200. Do you really know what your HR costs are? There may be more money going down the drain than you realize. If the cost for worksite employees could be made a predictable cost, would-n’t it be a wise decision to mitigate some of that risk by partnering with a PEO. We live in one of the most litigious

communities in our country and most employers in Corpus Christi are still operating like their grand pappy’s did 60 years ago. Protect your assets, en-sure your employees are working in a safe environment, and make sure you’re operating efficiently so your focus is on revenue production. For more information on the most highly accredited and ESAC certified locally headquartered PEO call or email consultant Connie Jackson at (800) 824-8367 or at [email protected].


Shocked by rising commercial electricity bills? We can help. Wish you could get better rates without having to spend a lot of time dealing with a bunch of salespeople and worrying about the contract terms? Take advantage of the

Chamber’s Electric Coalition. There is no fee to have a professional find out how much your business, church or organization can save. And you are not obligated to accept an offer if you don’t want to. It’s exclusive to Chamber

members, and it’s quick, easy and safe! Contact the Chamber at 361-664-3454.

The Texas Association of Counties (TAC) recognized State Rep. Yvonne Gonzalez Toureilles for her leadership and support of county governments dur-ing the 81st Legislative Session. Jim Wells County Judge L. Arnoldo Saenz, the Jim Wells County Commissioners Court and staff from TAC presented Rep. Gonzalez Toureilles with a plaque. “The decision to honor Rep. Gonzalez Toureilles chairman of the Agriculture and Livestock Committee was an easy one because of her hard work on creating the much-needed technology fund, back-ing of counties on overweight permits and carrying bills to assist counties and their jails with the impact of parole violators,” Judge Saenz said. Several important pieces of legislation came out of recommendations from elected officials and constituents in the district. Issues including technology funding, private property protection, and expanded uses of abandoned and forfeited vehicles by county entities were among legislation filled and passed by the representative. “I want to thank the Texas Association of Counties and all my county officials

for the recognition, and pledge to con-tinue to work with them and be their voice in Austin,” Rep. Gonzalez

Toureilles said. Highlights of the legis-lation can be found on the Texas Legis-lature homepage.

State Rep Toureilles honored for legislation

State Rep. Yvonne Gonzalez-Toureilles is presented a plaque during a Jim Wells County Commissioners Court in September.


Auto Home Business Life Health

1810 E. Main Alice 361-664-4348

1-888-664-4349

www.carlisleins.com


2701 E. Main (361) 668-0441

LEADERSHIP JIM WELLS COUNTY

Leadership Jim Wells County is be-ginning its 15th class this year with a reception in October at the Alice Cham-ber of Commerce. “Leadership Jim Wells County is a program aimed at further educating po-tential and existing leaders and enhanc-ing visionary leadership skills through in-depth sessions,” Steering Committee CO-Chairperson Juan Navejar said. The nine members of the Class of 2010 are Prisilla Ann Cope, Hank Wiley, Georgia Uribe, Jimmy Schmidt, Maria Trevino, Todd Braun, Gaylynn Storm, Vanessa Torres and Jaime Gonzalez. Leadership Jim Wells County is a nine-month course that is sponsored by the Alice Chamber of Commerce and Jim Wells County Master Planning As-sociation. The course curriculum includes ses-sions in local government that gives the group a prospective of local government and issues about the area. Ethics and communications enhance roles and ideas about the world through ethical situa-tions. The communications session al-lows the student to get a better under-standing of communications and the media. Leadership incorporates aspects of being an effective role model, team

player and leader. The state government allows the class to get a better understand-ing of the state government in Austin. The education session shows off both private and public school districts and their inner works. The criminal justice session wraps up the year a better understanding of the judicial system through incarceration of inmates. The class will have its first session will involve the ROPES/Challenge Course with low elements being done in the morning while the high elements being

done in the afternoon. The low elements present a different challenge with the group figuring out the best and safest way to accomplish their goals. The elements are designed to teach the group to trust, communicate effectively, work together, develop leadership and be responsible for one another. The highs are more of an individual challenge; building self-confidence, learning to trust, overcoming fears, etc. The first session is set for Tuesday, October 13th at Camp Zephyr.

Nine in LJWC Class of 2010

Class of 2009 will serve as facilitators for this year’s class.

In order to accommodate entrepreneurs busy schedules the Del Mar College SBDC operates a satellite office at Coastal Bend College - Alice. The Alice office services Jim Wells, Duval, Brooks, Kleberg, Live Oak, McMullen and Kenedy counties. This office run by senior coun-selor Larry Ellis offers business counseling, training and procurement technical assistance to the residents and businesses of South Texas. For more information on the Small Business De-velopment Centers and Procurement Assistance, contact Larry Ellis at 661-1119 or check out our website http://www.delmar.edu/sbdc

Cornerstone Member

1600 E. Main Alice

Employee vs. independent contractor

If you are a small business owner, whether you hire people as independent contractors or as employees will impact how much taxes you pay and the amount of taxes you withhold from their pay-checks. Additionally, it will affect how much additional cost your business must bear, what documents and information they must provide to you, and what tax docu-ments you must give to them. Here are the top ten things every business owner should know about hiring people as independent contractors versus hiring them as employ-ees. ♦ 1. Three characteristics are used by the

IRS to determine the relationship be-tween businesses and workers: Behav-ioral Control, Financial Control, and the Type of Relationship.

♦ 2. Behavioral Control covers facts that show whether the business has a right to direct or control how the work is done through instructions, training or other means.

♦ 3. Financial Control covers facts that show whether the business has a right

to direct or control the financial and business aspects of the worker’s job.

♦ 4. The Type of Relationship factor relates to how the workers and the business owner perceive their rela-tionship.

♦ 5. If you have the right to control or direct not only what is to be done, but also how it is to be done, then your workers are most likely em-ployees.

♦ 6. If you can direct or control only the result of the work done — and not the means and methods of ac-complishing the result — then your workers are probably independent contractors.

♦ 7. Employers who misclassify work-ers as independent contractors can end up with substantial tax bills. Additionally, they can face penalties for failing to pay employment taxes and for failing to file required tax forms.

♦ 8. Workers can avoid higher tax bills and lost benefits if they know their proper status.

♦ 9. Both employers and workers can ask the IRS to make a determination

on whether a specific individual is an independent contractor or an em-ployee by filing a Form SS-8 – De-termination of Worker Status for Purposes of Federal Employment Taxes and Income Tax Withholding – with the IRS.

♦ 10. You can learn more about the critical determination of a worker’s status as an Independent Contractor or Employee at IRS.gov by selecting the Small Business link.

Additional resources include IRS Pub-lication 15-A, Employer’s Supplemental Tax Guide, Publication 1779, Independ-ent Contractor or Employee, and Publi-cation 1976, Do You Qualify for Relief under Section 530? These publications and Form SS-8 are available on the IRS Web site or by calling the IRS at 800-829-3676 (800-TAX-FORM).


27th ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARADE

Tues. Dec. 1, 2009 Downtown Alice

STREET RODS OF ALICE

ANNUAL ROD RUN

October 3-4 JWC Fairgrounds

The third quarter has come to a close and with it the Fall festivals are here. The His-panic Heritage Festival had a great turnout on

September 11-12 in downtown Alice. This festival brought quite a few people into the city for the two-day event along with some much needed rain. Despite the wet weather, the festival did run as planned. The Alice Coyote football team hosted California team in September. The CVB provided welcome packets for them as well as bought bottle water for their ho-tel rooms. The team stayed in Alice for two nights in one of our local hotels. October brings about the Street Rods of Alice Annual Rod Run on Oct. 3-4 at the Jim Wells County Fairgrounds. The Chamber sets its eyes or bulleyes on clay targets for its annual Skeet Shoot on Sat. Oct 10th at the JWC Fair-grounds. Two weeks later, the JWC Fair kicks off its annual Fair from Oct. 21-24th. Each month we tabulate the number


CONVENTION AND VISITORS

BUREAU

Convention & Visitors Bureau

1-877-992-5423

of sessions received on the pages and you would be amazed as how many and where the hits are coming from. In September the number of hits to our webpage were 16,771 sessions to the site indicating an increase from the summer with most hits coming from northern Texas. Among the targeted webpages was general information about Alice, accom-modations and sites. Applications for 2009 project funding are available at the Chamber of Com-

merce and are due 60 days prior to event in order to receive board approval for events to be held in Alice. All requests must be presented to the Chamber board for approval before granting assistance from the CVB. Funding will be done a bit different this year. Aside the application, the CVB will require a business plan and proof of insur-ance before awarding funding to assure we are using proper documentation of the hotel tax funding.

Alice Mayor Pro-Tem John Lemon provided a welcome basket to the California team from the City of Alice.

TEXAS WELCOME

You work hard and save aggressively so that one day you can retire from the work-force. When the fa-bled day arrives and you enter the blissful state of retirement, you may be tempted to think you’re done

agonizing over your money and savings. The truth is the hard work is probably just beginning. Assuming you’re like most of us, with a finite number of dol-lars available to fund your retirement, you need a plan to make sure you are spending and investing in the most opti-mal way to make your money last as long as possible. Here are five pitfalls to avoid in retirement to help you preserve your assets and maintain your lifestyle for years to come. Don’t retire too early. It’s difficult to predict how long you will live, but lon-gevity trends suggest the likelihood of longer life spans for current and future retirees. If you retire at age 62, you could live another 20 or 30 years. Not only do you need to think about how long your money will last, you should also consider the consequences for taking early with-drawals from your retirement nest egg. Also consider that if you choose to take Social Security early, you agree to re-ceive a reduced amount each month for the privilege of potentially more years of the benefit. Your Social Security state-ment can help you determine the finan-cial trade-offs of taking early benefits or postponing Social Security income for a few years. Don’t rely on just one form of in-come. You probably realize that Social Security is unlikely to provide you with enough money to live on in retirement, and that you will need additional sources of income to live comfortably. Most re-tirees look to a number of sources to cob-ble together a retirement income. Even though you’re retired, you can still seek out growth investments, assuming you retain a good share of your savings in less risky ventures. Seek balance by di-versifying or spreading your savings across a variety of investments with varying levels of risk. A financial advisor can help you select from available stocks

PAUL RYCROFT on Finance


Five pitfalls to avoid in retirement and bonds to keep your money working for you and help generate investment in-come. Beware of insurance gaps. Your in-surance needs may change in retirement, but they won’t go away. You may need to replace employer-sponsored benefits such as life, health and dental insurance after you retire. Shop around for attractive price points and good quality plans. Even if your home is paid for, you should main-tain an appropriate level of homeowners’ insurance in case of theft, fire or other incidences. Consider whether long-term care insurance for you and your spouse is something you want to help pay for things like long-term care in a nursing home. Avoid tax mistakes with retirement distributions. Your sources of income in retirement may include Social Security, a company-sponsored pension plan, IRA, 401(k) or a profit sharing plan. How you access your savings in these various in-vestment vehicles can have a profound affect on how long your money lasts. The IRS regulates how much you can take out of your retirement accounts each year and you can incur stiff tax penalties if you do not abide by the rules. Talk to your tax preparer and financial advisor about re-quired minimum distributions from your retirement accounts and establish a sched-ule of withdrawals that satisfies require-ments while preserving principal. At re-tirement, you are generally required to begin taking minimum distributions from qualified retirement plans by April 1 of the year after you turn 70½.

Don’t underestimate the impact of inflation. When you estimate how much you need in retirement, don’t forget to consider how inflation reduces the value of your savings over time. Your budget should factor in rising health care costs and other expenses that may grow dis-proportionately. In general, early retirees spend more on travel and hobbies while they are still active and healthy; these costs may go down as you get older. Get professional advice. A knowl-edgeable financial advisor can help you analyze your retirement portfolio and recommend steps to help you make choices with your retirement assets. Talk to your advisor and tax professional to plan your distributions to help reduce your tax obligation. With careful plan-ning, you can effectively manage your retirement assets — and relax and enjoy the golden years. This column is for informational pur-poses only. The information may not be suitable for every situation and should not be relied on without the advice of your tax, legal and/or financial advisors. Neither Ameriprise Financial nor its fi-nancial advisors provide tax or legal ad-vice. Consult with qualified tax and legal advisors about your tax and legal situa-tion. Diversification helps spread risk throughout your portfolio, so that invest-ments that do poorly may be balanced by others that do relatively better. Diversifi-cation is not a guarantee of overall port-folio profit or protection against loss.

801 N. Texas Blvd. Alice, Texas

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RIGHT: Maxine Flournoy cuts the ribbon to open the new Third Coast Squadron Museum expansion.

UNIQUE, From Page 7

the present. The Third Coast Squadron Aviation Museum is a volunteer organization with many veterans having the desire to honor and remember those men and women of WWII and beyond who want to teach younger generations about the cost of freedom, or that can relate the excitement of aviation and the roar of an engine to those students who wonder what it is like to soar above the clouds. As a unit of the CAF, Third Coast is going to follow in the footsteps of those individuals who have established muse-ums and educational facilities in their towns around the country because the Coastal Bend has a long tradition of military history dating back to WWII.

Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced that USDA is accepting applications for grants to assist agricul-tural producers seeking to add value to the commodities they produce. Approxi-mately $18 million will be awarded na-tionwide. “These grants strengthen rural econo-mies and create jobs by helping farmers and ranchers add value to their agricul-tural products by using them for plan-ning activities such as feasibility studies, marketing and business plans, or for working capital,” Vilsack said. “This program also supports President Obama’s goal to expand our nation’s renewable energy resources by helping farmers develop renewable energy from agricultural products.” Planning grants up to $100,000 and working capital grants up to $300,000 will be awarded through USDA Rural Development’s Value Added Producer Grant program. USDA is encouraging projects that use existing agricultural products in nontraditional ways and/or merge agricultural products with tech-nology in creative ways. Businesses of all sizes may apply, but priority will be given to operators of Small and Medium-Sized Family Farms

USDA seeks applicants for value-added producer grants or Ranches with a 3-year average of $700,000 or less in annual gross sales of agricultural product. The competitive grants to be awarded under this notice are part of USDA Rural Development’s an-nual budget and are not funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Paper applications for both unreserved and reserved funds must be postmarked and mailed, shipped or sent overnight no

later than November 30, 2009 to the Rural Development Texas State Office, Attention Business and Cooperative Programs, 101 South Main Street, Suite 102, Temple, TX 76501. Electronic applications for both unreserved and reserved funds must be submitted through www.Grants.gov and received by November 30, 2009. For additional information, see the Sep-tember 1, 2009 Federal Register, page 46165.

A Rainbow Beginning AT&T - Texas A&W Investments Sunset Terrace A-1 Quality Fence Acetylene Oxygen Company Adcock Pipe & Supply *Adventure Moonwalk & Party Rentals LLC Alamo Lumber Company Alamosa Animal Hospital Alice Autoplex, Inc. Alice Board of Realtors Alice Body & Paint Alicecalendar.com Alice Cash & Carry Alice Counseling Center Alice Echo-News Journal Alice Family Eye Center Alice Fire Fighters Asso. Alice Feeder Supply, Inc. Alice Heart Center Alice Housing Authority Alice Mini Storage Alice Motor Inn *Alice Noon Lions Alice Optimist Club Alice Paint & Decorating Alice Pest Control, Inc. Alice Police Officers Asso. Alice Radiator & Muffler Alice Shoe Shop *Amanda’s Country Classic Amerigroup Community Care Ameriprise Financial Andrews Distributors Angel Care Ambulance *Armando Marroquin Astromatic Car/Truck Wash Atkinson - Wonders Avon Products B&J Air & Pump *Baby ‘N Me Ultrasound Baker Auto Sales Ball-Montez Electric Co. Barker, Paulette Bedgood, R.E. & Sons Best Western Executive Inn Betty Allison Realtors. Inc. Bob Hays Western Store Bordeaux Apartments Bowden Ford *Boys & Girls Club of Alice BriteStar Brush Country Bank Brush Country Casa Brush Country Claims Buckhorn Mini Storage *Burger Basket Byron W. Blair, P.C. C.A. Jackson, Inc. *CAM Trucking Service C.A.W. Company Inc.

Cameron Village Apts. Carlisle Insurance Agency Century 21 Hallmark *Chentes Restaurant Chiles Sales & Service CHRISTUS Spohn Hospital Alice Church’s Fried Chicken Claro Communications Coastal Bend Blood Center Coastal Bend College Coastal Community & Teachers Credit Union Community Action Corporation *Community Coalition For Children and Families Cornelius, Nettie Cornerstone Baptist Church *Corpus Christi Hammerheads *Corpus Christi Hooks *Corpus Christi IceRays Covance Research Products Cowley Supply Company Coym, Rehmet & Gutierrez Engs. *Cruz Drywall & Painting CVS Dairy Burger Dan’s Processing Center, Inc. Day, Michael & Melanae Days Inn *Del Cielo Home Health Dee Dee C. Arismendez, Ind. Contractor Home Interiors DeLaune Drilling Service Devon Energy Dixie Iron Works MSI, Ltd. Dr. Alejandro Lopez Dr. Bandeira Teixeira Dr. Gary T. Cloud, O.D. Dr. Roel Garza & Assoc. Family Dentistry Dr. William Nisimblat, M.D. Edwards Furniture *Elsa’s Pill Box EnDyn OMS, Inc. *Especially For Me *Family Heritage FESCO, Inc. First Community Bank First State Bank of San Diego First United Methodist Church Flournoy Family Properties Flowers Machine & Welding Co. Garza, Joe Frank Richard J. Garza, P.C. Gilbert’s Fine Jewelry *GoComm Solutions LLC Goodwill of South Texas Guaranty Title & Abstract Gulf Coast Federal Credit Union H&S Constructors, Inc. Halliburton Services *Hampton Inn *H-E-B

Hispanic Heritage Committee H.D. Machine & Welding Holiday Inn Express *HomeCare Medical Equip. Humpal Physical Therapy & Sports Medicine Hunter Petroleum Hunter-Ash Oil Co. Immanuel Lutheran Church International Bank of Commerce Island Glow Jasso Insurance Jigger JWC Fair Association Joe’s Plumbing Johnny’s Blooming Shop Johnson, Yvette Jolene’s Merle Norman K.C. Hall K&S Thread Services Keetch & Associates LHR Services & Equipment L&F Distributors La Copita Ranch La Hacienda Pharmacy *La Quinta Inn & Suites Lack’s Furniture Store Lawrence B. Cornelius & Co. Lemon & Gonzalez-Lemon Loomis International *Lone Star Motors Lopez Finance Love Chrysler Dodge Jeep Maurices Manpower *Maresch, Ernestina McCoys McDonalds McNinch, Leon CPA *Meridian Care of Alice *Mi Familia Adult Day Care Model Key Shop Murdoch Welding NSCL N&S Air Conditioning Neff’s Plumbing Service New York Life Insurance New Sound Hearing Aid Nortex Bakery & Fast Foods Page Water Well Drilling Paladium Bowl Panda Chinese Restaurant Perez, Marisela Phoinix Global LLC Picture Perfect Sanitizing Platinum Slickline Service Plaza Four Popeye’s Port of Corpus Christi *Prodigy Child Academy Prosperity Bank Raul Ramirez - State Farm

Ray Vess Jewelers *RC Electric *Rialto Jewelry Richardson’s Water Well Drilling Right of Way Service Inc. Rios, Margot Robert Molina - State Farm Insurance Robstown Catering *Rollies BBQ & Country Store *Rosas Funeral Home, Inc. Rush Truck Center, Alice Rushing & Gonzalez Saldivar Coastal Services, Inc. Sandoval, Ruben Scott Bearing Company Scottish Inn Sears Authorized Dealer Store Seidel, Whittington & Company SERCO of Texas, Inc. Sherwin-Williams Small Business Dev. Center SNBL USA, Ltd. South TX Blood & Tissue Center South Texas Museum South Texas Screening - Driving School Stewart Title Company St. Elizabeth Catholic School St. Joseph Catholic School Star Light Limo Service State Rep Yvonne Gonzalez-Toureilles State Sen. Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa Steamatic of Alice Steve Costley Advertising *Tesoro Loan Texas Champion Bank Texas Star The Copy Center *The Menu Gazette The Tint Shop Third Coast Squadron *Tiny Tots Day Care Tractor Supply Company Truckers Equipment *True Elite Fitness & Well Tutti Frutti Delight Tyrone City Barber Shop *Unique Staffing *Universal Mortgage United Medical Services V.F.W. Post 8621 *VillageProfile.com *VTX Communications Walker, Jack Wal-Mart, Inc. Weiben Chiropractic Clinic Wells Fargo Bank Whataburger of Alice Workforce Solutions *Indicates new 2009 new member

Thank You 2009 Alice Chamber of Commerce Members

Alice Chamber of Commerce 612 East Main P.O. Box 1609 Alice, Texas 78332

Membership Benefits • Two FREE classified listings in the Chamber web-

site: www.alicetx.org • FREE Subscription to Alice Business Today, the

official Chamber monthly newsletter • Annual Membership Directory/Buyer’s Guide

listing all members, including a classified directory for member businesses

• Advertising opportunities in Chamber publications to promote your business

• Membership Services which include FREE Busi-ness Announcement/Ribbon Cutting Ceremonies, Conference Room Rentals and Mailing Lists

• Networking Opportunities through Chamber activi-ties to make valuable contacts and promote your business

• Opportunities to get involved in the Chamber’s volunteer working committees to help build a stronger economy and bright future for our commu-nity

• Access to economic and statistical information through the Chamber office

• Support of a professional staff that works fulltime for you and your fellow members

Objectives The following objectives have been established by the Alice Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors:

• To encourage and advance the growth of existing industries and businesses.

• To provide all proper assistance to any new firms, professional or individuals seeking to locate in the Alice area.

• To serve as liaison with all government, civic and educational entities, and law enforcement agencies in Alice and Jim Wells County.

• To increase our membership and provide quality service for our members.

• To identify and assist in obtaining funding to accomplish the ob-jectives of the Chamber of Commerce.

For more information on how to get involved and benefit as a member of the Chamber of Commerce, call (361) 664-3454, or stop by the of-fice located at 612 E. Main, Alice, Texas.

october - alicetx.org 09.pdf · 12/1/2009 · ans were enshrined into the museum’s hall of fame....

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