Congress IS LISTENING!!

I got this email last night and I am excited to share that Congress is putting local small business needs at the front of their plate! 

Read this share and contact your congressman today! 

"Good Evening,

I wanted to make you aware that Congress is listening to small business owners and supporters. 

A hearing has been scheduled in DC to further examine the need to protect small business and level the playing field.

Please let me know if you would like to send a letter, make a call, or contact our Texas delegation to STAND WITH SMALL BUSINESS!

Also, please forward this to your fellow small business owners in your community.

Look forward to hearing from you."

Best,
Luke Legate
(512) 775-9400;

Online Sales Tax Hearing Expected By Early March  

POLITICO's Morning Tax:
By Lauren French

"ONLINE SALES TAX HEARING EXPECTED BY EARLY MARCH. House Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte is expected to hold a hearing on online sales tax legislation by the end of February or early March, a person working closely on the issue told Morning Tax. This hearing has been hotly-anticipated for both supporters and opponents of the effort to give states the ability to collect sales taxes from out-of-state online retailers. Still no word on when a House-authored bill could be introduced (Rep. Jason Chaffetz told Morning Tax he is working on language) but we hear that Goodlatte wants some sort of paper before the hearing. The source working closely on the issue said any new legislation could run into issues when trying to comply with the each of the seven principals Goodlatte outlined last year. “Some of the principals are kind of contradictory when you start breaking them down in practice,” they said, noting specifically the goal to give increased authority and regulatory power to the states while also keeping sales tax collection simple for small businesses."

 

Facebook down, what will we do

Currently there is an international Crisis... Facebook Pages and Timeline went down, around 10:00 a.m. EST,  but users say they things appear to function normally on their News Feeds.
This disruption seemed to affect users globally as Facebook users from San Diego, Calif.; the Dominican Republic; New York City, N.Y.; and more, according to several comments posted on Twitter with the hashtag #Facebook.

Websites that check for updates like Is It Down Right Now  are commenting:

 "We have tried pinging Facebook website using our server and the website returned the above results. If facebook.com is down for us too there is nothing you can do except waiting. Probably the server is overloaded, down or unreachable because of a network problem, outage or a website maintenance is in progress.."

 and the site Down Right Now which monitors the status of your favorite web services, combining user reports and official announcements to tell you when there's service trouble, are listing this as a server error. These sites are flooded with comments about problems accessing pages outside of Facebook’s homepage.

Facebook has made no comment as of the time of this post regarding an estimated return to normal schedule.  

TxDOT kicks off US 77 project 8-20-13

WAXAHACHIE – Ground has broken on a TxDOT project that will improve safety along US 77. This will involve constructing a raised median from Overhill Drive to just south of YMCA Drive.

 

Traffic signals will also be upgraded at Kirksey, Northgate Shopping Center, Indian Drive and Northgate Drive. The upgraded signals will have the new flashing yellow arrow left-turn light replacing the circular green light indicating it’s safe to turn left when oncoming traffic has passed.

 

The signal at the southbound US 287 service road will be adjusted to coordinate with those signals for smoother flowing traffic through the corridor.

 

The third part of the project will be to modify the outside median along northbound US 77 at US 287 widening the travel lane in front of Walmart to the entrance of the Target shopping center.

 

This project was requested by the City of Waxahachie after a traffic study concluded that installing the raised median and removing the existing center-median would improve operation and safety along the corridor.

 

Work requiring lane closures will be performed at night, between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. the next morning. The work is estimated to be complete in January 2014.

 

The $1,755,231.90 contract was awarded to O. Trevino Construction of Roanoke, Texas, and was funded with 87% federal funds and 13% state funds.

 

Road conditions and traffic updates are available on the drivetexas.org website, on Facebook, www.facebook.com/txdot and Twitter, www.twitter.com/txdot orwww.twitter.com/txdotdallaspio.

 

For more information, contact TxDOT Dallas District PIO Michelle Releford atmichelle.releford@txdot.gov or 214-320-4485.                                 ###

4 Mistakes to Avoid During a Downturn Economy

Written by:
Randall Chase
Membership Director
Waxahachie Chamber of Commerce

There have been quite a few ups and downs lately, the Dow was down the NASDAQ was up, your budgets were down (hopefully) your profits are up. CNN just called the U.S. economy 'prettiest house on an ugly block'. This roller coaster we call business has a tendency to throw us into firefighting mode but it’s very important to remain calm and keep in mind some simple keys to success in a down turned economy.

There are 4 mistakes to avoid, helping make your upswing a successful one.

Mistake #1 Hasty Hiring: The thought that if you fire your staff and start new you can get great results.  

Real Result: Bad hires that are costly and time consuming. As the saying goes “it’s better to be alone than wish you were.” If you must start with new folks then it’s better to try out new staff members as independent contractors first or temp to hire. Then, after you’re confident that they work well with your team and share your values, bring them on as permanent hires, if it’s just not working out, you have made no commitments and it’s on to prospect #2.

Mistake #2 Pausing Your Profit: No one consciously does this, but it happens all the time.  

Real Result: By spending extra time propping up ailing products, divisions or accounts you may just end up discouraging your own growth. Always remember the 80/20 principle: 20% of your product make 80% of your profit, focus on that 20%. Consider offering commissions for selling higher $ items. This will in turn encourage sales from the staff and boost the bottom line.

Mistake #3 Skipping the Six-Month Plan: During a downturn is not the time to put a hold on planning.

Real Result: A scattered focus getting nothing accomplished. With a six-month plan, you will have mapped out the projects for the immediate, foreseeable future and can skillfully avoid manic distractions with poor results.

Mistake #4 Chasing All Sales Leads: The thought that you must close every one that comes in the door, right then. 

Real Result: The key is getting to know your client better, and then you may see a referral from them down the road. Be genuine, and listen to them, don't always try to close them, get to know them. Through networking groups like Ambassadors or Lunch Bunch and Fun Bunch we can give you the opportunity build that connection. Just because you have a name and number doesn't mean they are in your market. Look at (or create some) key indicators of who is buying what you are selling, and spend your time on those folks, and try to understand your client on a personal level. 

Stay Current In The Current

By Randall Chase

 I just got back from Institute For Organization Management in LA. While out there I visited a beach  and as I watched the surfers it reminded me of something I have seen in the business world.

I shared this with our Ambassadors recently and it seemed fitting to repost this here. 

Stay Current in the Current

 In a fluctuating market it can be hard to keep yourself in front of the wave. Just like in surfing, there are a few very important keys to be able to keep yourself afloat and riding the wave of the new economy. Your board is your business, the wave is the marketing trend.  

Stay in front:

You have to stay just in front of the wave to ride it. Too far out and it won’t push you, wait too long and it will pass you by.

Ride with it, don’t try to direct it:

You can’t control the wave any more than you can control the market; in small business you must ride with the wave to be successful.

Keep a keen eye out:

You must know which wave to ride and which ones to let pass by. Some waves are short lived and others have staying power. 

There are always more:

Remember that if you miss this wave, there will be another wave coming soon. Just regroup and be ready for the next one. 

They all break:

Every wave drives to the shore, and all waves eventually break, as is the case with the market. Know that getting into it; don’t get too attached to the wave, but keep your board close. Don’t lose your business for the sake of a market trend. Do you remember Pets.com?

You have to start somewhere:

You will never catch a wave if you don’t jump in the water. You will never catch the market if you don’t at least try to ride the wave, sitting on the shore is easy, and it’s easy to criticize from a beach blanket, but get out there yourself. 

Remember its about making a lasting impact in your business, not about the waves of marketing trends. Utilize the wave as a tool to push your business to the next level. But don't get lost in the sea of options, if a marketing trend is working for you keep riding it; if not hop off and look for something else that works better. While this may take time to figure out its worth the time spent. A pro surfer didn't become one overnight, and they probably missed a few good waves along the way.  

Social Media may be your wave to ride, it may not. Print media may be your wave that connects you with the market your business needs. Just know that if one doesn't work for you there are other waves in the ocean, and it may be coming before you know it. Ride it or it could pass you by, or worse yet crash over and sink you. 

Article written by Randall Chase

No portion of this article may be used without the written permission of the author (If you ask I will more than likely say yes though, so be kind).

Twitter Virus Strikes again!!

Say it ain't so.... someone has said something bad about me?!?! NOOOOOOO...

Fear not!! It's not true, everyone loves you and no one is saying bad things about you :)

I noticed a few times today on Twitter recently:

This is what it may look like. DON'T CLICK IT

Its a Direct Message that makes it look like someone doesn't like you... well many have fallen victim to this virus and its sweeping the Twitter world again, it has made a few circles around the block changing its name a bit but it the same bug each time. It was, "Someone is saying bad things" Someone is making Comments about you" and others. Basically people are concerned so they click on it and shaclaky you get struck by a smooth criminal. (A Virus that is, not Micheal Jackson)

This Virus then sends out the same message to all your friends as you... that't right it takes over your Twitter account and sends out messages like it was you sending it out.


So you may get this message  that looks like its coming from a reputable link, or even an old friend from high school well its not. 


They are infected with a virus that uses their Twitter account to send out these messages.

Some words to the wise, “don’t click on the link”. Just delete the Direct Message (DM). 

And by the way, go and change your Twitter password while you are at it. It would not hurt to do a full virus scan either.

These viruses use generic messages in hope that many people will click on them. I have alerted those who have sent this to me to perform the above steps.

Lessons to take away from this experience:

• Don’t click on everything that has a hyperlink
• When in doubt about whether sender really did send this, contact the sender to verify that they did purposely send it
• If you get infected, login into the affected site and change your password as soon as possible
• Make sure there is no gift left behind on your device by doing a virus scan
• You have to protect all your accounts by acting wisely at all times. Don’t be click happy and click on everything that gets in front of you.

Social media is a great tool for personal and business use, but make sure you use it wisely!

February News

Click here to grow your business

February 2012 Welcome to Waxahachie Chamber Of Commerce We appreciate your membership and look forward to a great year!! Date 2/23/2012 Time 6:30 PM TO 9:30 PM You are cordially invited to the 84th Annual Awards Banquet, Thursday, February 23, 2012, Six-Thirty in the Evening at the Waxahachie Civic Center. Ticket price: $38.00 per person. Please RSVP by February 16, 2012, to Karen Maxwell: kmaxwell@waxahachiechamber.com or 972-937-2390. LifeStyles: The Home and Family Expo There is still time to get your booth space Its coming up, make sure and reserve your booth spot for this years LifeStyles Expo, and Taste of Waxahachie. Booths are filling up fast but we still have some great spots open. This is the biggest expo if its kind in Ellis County with over 60,000 Square feet of meeting space, over 100 booths and over 3,000 attendees each year. If you haven't gotten your application yet, click on the link below to find out more: LifeStyles:The Home and Family Expo The 2012 Membership Directory is in!!! We have all been waiting for it, and it's in, they just arrived as publishing this newsletter, and they look GREAT!! In This Issue 84th Annual Banquet LifeStyles Daddy Daughter Dance 2012 Membership Directory #2 In The Counrty Waxahachie Chamber "THE Chamber to Watch" Second Most Liked Chamber In The Country According to ACCE (American Chamber of Commerce Executives). When it comes to Social Media, The Waxahachie Chamber is on top of their game. We are providing opportunities galore for you to promote your business in the fastest growing advertising market in the world. "When it comes to Social Media you are either in it, or you are being left behind" according to Social Media Experts the world over. The Waxahachie Chamber has run to the top of the market becoming "The Chamber to watch in North Texas", says the Director of a Leading Social Media company in Dallas. The Waxahachie Chamber of Commerce Facebook page has over 3,200 fans, making it the SECOND largest Chamber page in the nation. That's right in the NATION. And with nearly 400 Twitter fans, we are staying on top of the current trends and making sure that we pass that on to you. When it comes to Social Media, we want to make sure that you are able to use this to your advantage. As a member, you are able to link your Facebook page to ours and promote your business. This will put your company far above the competition by posting your ad in front of over 1,000 viewers a day. Your business will be the one they see and the the one they will want to choose. If you haven't already done so, be sure to Like us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn now by clicking the links below.

Social Media Basics

This is a blog series that we are going to be putting on to help our members with some of the burning questions about Social Media. We will cover many topics from Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn. How they work, what you can do with them, and most importantly how they can make you money.

For starters what you need to know is that Social Media is more than just another advertising venue, its more like a conversation you are having with your customers, and potential customers.

Traditional Media is like a one way street, you put an ad out and hope it gets your message across, but you are not there to answer the questions your audience has, and you can't expound beyond the print. Social Media on the other hand is like a two way street, or conversation. You are able to communicate instantly with your customer, and then respond directly to questions, and be able to overcome the objections if there are any.

One way that I heard it put was imagine you are having a conversation with an individual and someone just walks up and says "Hi, I'm so-and-so buy my product." and then they leave are you going to buy his product? Most of us would answer "NO" This is how a traditional commercial happens many times, we are watching a show that we like, and then there is an interruption (usually at good part) and then in come the commercials for paper towels, dog food, razors, medications, 3 minutes later your show is back on and you have moved on. Or you have recorded your show and just fast forward past them and ignore them anyway.

Social Media on the other hand is your customers intentionally communicating with you. You are a part of the conversation not simply an interruption to it.

An example would be on Twitter:

When you go onto Twitter and tweet (or share) about your product and use the # symbol in front of it, then anyone else interested in that product will be able to see you. Example, "I sure do love #IceCream I wish I had some right now." If you sold Ice Cream you could follow anyone who puts the "#" in their tweet and tell them that your company sells the best. then offer them a 10% off coupon by going to your website or email them a coupon. Its just that simple. This works with anything.

The Social Media Company Social Motives posted this in their blog last October:

An well-integrated Social Media strategy will keep customers and prospects engaged with your brand for longer. In an independent 2010 survey, the Social Media Examiner asked marketers how social media has affected their businesses and the results were mapped into the graphic below:

At the Waxahachie Chamber of Commerce we are here to encourage develop and grow your business through networking, advertising, promotion, and growth opportunities.

Follow us on Twitter at:

@HachieChamber

04 19 2010 Newsletter

Hello Delaney!      Be thinking about how you want to get involved with the Gingerbread Classic Golf Tournament this year! It's going to be a blast!   Don't forget to send me your news, give me your input, and forward our newsletter to potential Chamber members.

CHAMBER EVENTS

	Gearing up for the 2010 Gingerbread Classic!!
Get involved! Sponsorships, play on a team, volunteer, even donate to the Silent Auction! For more info click on the poster to go to the informational site, including a 2010 Golf Packet or please call 972-937-2390.

HOT NEWS!

City of Waxahachie to Hold Hazardous Household Waste and Electronic Waste Collection Day

The City of Waxahachie is giving its citizens an opportunity to dispose of unwanted hazardous items and help the environment at the same time. On Saturday, April 24 from 9-11 a.m., the city will hold a Hazardous Household Waste and Electronic Waste (E-Waste) Collection Day. In a partnership with the City of Fort Worth's Environmental Collection Center (ECC), Crud Cruiser (Mobile Unit) and Goodwill, Waxahachie residents will have the chance to dispose of hazardous household waste and E-Waste. These items include objects and substances not allowed to be placed in regular residential trash pick up.    The event will be held at the Citizens' Convenience Station, located at 499 Lions Park Road.   Hazardous household waste includes items such as paint, stain and thinners, motor oil and filters, cleaning supplies, antifreeze and batteries (all kinds, including car batteries).   Included in the E-Waste disposal are computers and parts, small appliances, cell phones, VCRs, radio equipment, telephones and printers.   For a complete list of acceptable items please visit www.waxahachie.com and click on the Environmental Health Department link. This marks the fifth time the City has held this event, which has been increasingly successful. "This is a great opportunity for citizens to dispose of or recycle their unwanted items in an environmentally safe manner. We hope lots of residents will take advantage of the event, just like in the past," said Sonny Wilson, Director of Health for the City. In addition to the upcoming event, the City is also in its tenth year of offering an ongoing recycling program through both curbside pickup and drop-off at the Citizens' Convenience Station.  Regular residential trash pickup is offered twice a week, with one of those days being designated for recycling pickup. Items that may be included in curbside recycling are newspapers, magazines, plastics, cans, and glass. Citizens who reside in apartments may use the Citizens' Convenience Station to drop off the same recyclables that are collected from residential single-family households. Bins are supplied at the station to separate each recyclable into.    The Convenience Station, 499 Lions Park Road,  is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday. Periodically, regulations and environmental laws cause revisions to these recycling procedures. Citizens with questions about any of the procedures or recyclable items should contact the City of Waxahachie Environmental Health Department at 972-937-7330, extension 151, or IESI Disposal Services, Inc. at 972-937-8836.

	Summer Youth Work Program Works for You!

MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS

Chick-fil-A Events

Chick-fil-A Waxahachie  996 W. Hwy. 287 Bypass Waxahachie, TX 75165   Seniors, if you haven't already stopped by for Breakfast & Bingo, you should come join us!  We have a great group that comes early for breakfast on Thursdays, games start at 9:30 a.m. There is no charge to play, and the coffee is free!  See you there! Bosses, don't forget Administrative Professionals Day (formerly know as Secretary's Day) is Wednesday, April 21. Let Chick-fil-A help you show your administrative professional how much you appreciate him/her.  Let Chick-fil-A help you put together something special.  One last thing: If you are a texter and haven't signed up to receive our text blasts, it's not too late! Just text CFAWAX to 411247 and we'll send 3-4 texts monthly letting you know about great deals especially for you. Last week, for instance, if you were signed up, you could have received 8 FREE NUGGETS! Don't miss out! Sign up today!   For more information, call  972-937-1504.

	Moral Courage Foundation Scholarship Award Ceremony

Waxahachie Preparatory Academy Now Enrolling

Waxahachie Preparatory Academy 621 N. Grand Ave Waxahachie, TX 75165   Open House Dates Secondary- Thursday, April 29, Noon to 2 p.m.  Elementary- Friday, April 30, 9-11 a.m.   WPA is now enrolling for the 2010 fall semester. Attend the Open House to find out more information about the unique University-Model School®.     New Family Information Meetings (mandatory for application) will be Tuesday, April 27, Monday, May 10, and Tuesday, May 25 from 7-8 pm.    There is no application fee during the month of April...a $75 savings! Waxahachie Preparatory Academy is an accredited University-Model School® offering the best blend of homeschool and private Christian education for grades K-12.   For more information, please call 972-937-0440 or visit www.wpacademy.org.

Remember, if you miss any of the newsletters or need to see one again, we will now be archiving them. Check them out at http://waxahachiechamber.com/newsletter/default.php!     Have an awesome week! Michelle R. Finch Membership Director  Waxahachie Chamber Of Commerce & Convention and Visitors Bureau

04 12 2010 newsletter

Hello Delaney!      Whew!It's turning out to be a busy season! Take your pick and hope to see you soon!!   Don't forget to send me your news, give me your input, and forward our newsletter to potential Chamber members.

CHAMBER EVENTS

	Gearing up for the 2010 Gingerbread Classic!!
Get involved! Sponsorships, play on a team, volunteer, even donate to the Silent Auction! For more info click on the poster to go to the informational site, including a 2010 Golf Packet or please call 972-937-2390.

	Rise and Shine Networking Hosted by AirHogs Baseball!
Thursday, April 15, 7-9 a.m. 1600 Lone Star Pkwy Grand Prairie, TX 75050    Bring $2.00 and a Business Card and a great networking attitude. Any business or business person is welcome. Come grow your business in a fun atmosphere. For more information please visit www.riseandshinenetworking.com.

	Fun Bunch Business Networking!
RSVP to kmaxwell@waxahachiechamber.com or call 972.937.2390.

HOT NEWS!

Oncor Delivers More than Electricity

Open house event invites Waxahachie residents to explore the many facets of Oncor!   When:                        Tuesday, April 13th                                    5 p.m. - 7 p.m. Where:                       The Rogers Hotel, Lobby                                   100 N. College What:                         Oncor is putting out the welcome mat and inviting the residents of Waxahachie and its surrounding communities to a free event called Ask Oncor. We Deliver. This open house event gives Oncor a chance to visit with its neighbors and learn more about them. Residents can meet with Oncor representatives who live and work in the community and enjoy delicious food and refreshments. There are several interactive exhibits that will educate residents on: ·      how saving energy can save money ·      how Oncor keeps the lights on ·      how to use powertochoose.org ·      how the new smart meter benefits consumers ·      how we're working together for a better environment ·      how Oncor contributes to Waxahachie and the surrounding communities Attendees will receive money-saving giveaways for their homes and have a chance to win prizes like a $200 American Express gift card!   Visuals:                     Oncor experts are on hand to answer questions and guide visitors through six interactive display stations: ·      The Smart Texas station uses an in-home meter to demonstrate how much power household appliances draw ·      Oncor demonstrates how they maintain and restore power with the Keeping the Lights On station ·      Oncor works with the community to keep the power lines clear of danger, which is highlighted in the Vegetation Management station ·      The Energy Efficiency station shows residents how small changes in their homes can help save energy and money Background:             Oncor developed the Ask Oncor program as a way to connect with communities in its service territories across Texas. This event provides the opportunity for residents to ask questions and receive answers on the spot. Plus, they can learn about different programs and initiatives within Oncor. The Ask Oncor. We Deliver. event is traveling throughout the state and will visit an estimated 100 cities this year. Oncor Electric Delivery Company LLC ("Oncor") is a regulated electric distribution and transmission business that uses superior asset management skills to provide reliable electricity delivery to consumers. Oncor operates the largest distribution and transmission system in Texas, delivering power to more than 3 million homes and businesses and operating approximately 117,000 miles of transmission and distribution lines in Texas. While Oncor is owned by a limited number of investors (including majority owner, Energy Future Holdings Corp.), Oncor is managed by its Board of Directors, which is comprised of a majority of independent directors. Contact:                      Paul Hernandez                                   Oncor Area Manager                                      214-399-1101

Scarborough Renaissance Festival is Back!

WAXAHACHIE, TX (February 10, 2010) - Each weekend of the season brings a new Special Event to the 30th annual Scarborough Renaissance Festival®. The Festival is open on Saturdays and Sundays and Memorial Day Monday from April 10 through May 31. Scarborough's 30th season will begin on Saturday, April 10th and end on Memorial Day, May 31st. Scarborough is open on Saturdays, Sundays, and Memorial Day Monday, rain or shine, from 10 AM to 7 PM.    Special events include:April 17 & 18 -    Magic Weekend - Thrill to the magic of the Renaissance as The Flaming Idiots return for this weekend only April 24 & 25-  Highland Games - featuring both Men's and Women's divisions along with the Texas State Caber Championship. Special appearance by the original Rogues, this weekend only May 1 & 2-      Royal Ale Festival - Tastings of assorted beer and ales along with a variety of entertainment, each day at 1-3pm Special Appearance and book signing byPeter S. Beagle, author of The Last Unicorn                                    May 8 & 9-  Mother's Day - Renaissance Romance-Renew your vows at Noon in the Wedding Garden on Saturday and Sunday May 15 & 16-  Chivalry Weekend  - Riders of the Steel Horse will gather with their maiden's fair as motorcycle groups have a special day at Scarborough. May 22 & 23-   Pirate  Weekend - Hoist anchor and swash your buckles, it's a yo-ho-ho of a weekend May 29, 30 & 31-   Final Knights - The last chance to enjoy the shows, shop for bargains and eat a turkey leg for the season. Special 1pm Veterans parade on Memorial day. All Veterans are welcome to don the yellow sash and march in the parade.   Admission is $21.99 for adults and $8.50 for children, ages 5-12 (tax included). Children age 4 and under are admitted free. Admission includes free parking (courtesy of Allen Samuels Autoplex-Ennis)   Tickets are available online at "SRFestival.com", where you can print your own tickets, or at the castle gates on Festival days. Discount tickets are available at Tom Thumb grocery stores or Austin area Randalls grocery stores.    For more information please call 972-938-3247 or visit "ScarboroughRenFest.com". .

	Western Heritage Weekend
Texas Theater  110 W. Main St.  Downtown Waxahachie          For more information 972-937-1993 or visit www.texasmusictheater.com

	Texas Back to Work Initiative

MEMBER ANNOUNCEMENTS

	After Hours Improv Theater Performances
SAGU COMICS NIGHT Friday, April 16 at 8:30 PM Back by popular demand, After Hours Improv Theater hosts the comics of SAGU. Taylor Johnson will headline the night along with Darren Collins, Matt Wazbinkski, and Garland Owensby. For tickets or more information call 972-937-9839 to reserve or visit www.AfterHoursImprov.com

Chick-fil-A Family Night

Tuesday, April 13, 5:30 p.m. 996 W. Hwy. 287 Bypass Waxahachie, TX 75165   Don't forget this Tuesday night is Family Night Kid's Talent Show!  If you haven't already signed your child up, it's not too late!  They can have their 3 minutes of fame here on the Chick-fil-a stage!      If you have already signed your child up for the show,  they will be allowed to perform at the first part of the evening, but there's till plenty of time to sign up, or just show up and we'll work them in.  Make sure to invite the grandparents, aunts and uncles to cheer them on!    For more information, call  972-937-1504.

	Ellis County Hispanic Organization's 2nd Annual Cinco de Mayo Fiesta in Downtown Waxahachie!
For more information, such as sponsorship opportunities and vendor applications, please visit www.waxahachie5de5.com or call 214-336-5314.

Ellis County Living Magazine Has Office Space For Rent

Ellis County Living Magazine  405 W. Madison Waxahachie, TX 75165   Nice corporate offices available in downtown Waxahachie. Located in the level below the Ellis County Living Magazine headquarters, the office area consists of an outer office (10 x14) with hardwood flooring and a main office (14 x 15), which is carpeted. Private side entry. Add a phone/ with DSL and you are in business!   Monthly rent is $800 for the two offices or they can be rented separately. Utilities included. For a viewing, please contact Cindy Camp at cindycamp@mac.com or call 972-935-0938

Express Employment Professionals host LeaderCast 2010

Friday, May 7, 7:30 AM-3:30 PM Waxahachie Civic Center 2000 Civic Center Lane Waxahachie TX, 75165   Experience a one-day leadership event that will equip you to be the one to make a difference - at work, at home, and in your community. Join us for Leadercast 2010 and earn 5.5 hours or live continuing education credits. Formerly the Maximum Impact Simulcast, the Chick-fil-A Leadercast will teach you: -         The keys to connecting with others -         How to set yourself apart from the competition and influence others -         New ideas for creative problem solving -         Best practices for leading in challenging circumstances -         How to create strong team cultures -         How to avoid, detect, and reverse decline Individual tickets are $95.00 per person, but our discount pricing is still in effect, for a limited time only. Discount Rate: $69.99 Discounted Corporate Rate: Reserved Table for 5, Exclusive Seating: $400.00 (A portion of all net proceeds will be donated to local food banks) Special $10 discount for Chamber Members! Enter code:"waxahachiechamber" at checkout. Complimentary lunch catered by Chick-fil-A of Waxahachie. For more info please call Express at 972.923.1780

Foundation of Life Church Hosts SOLO Moms This Tuesday, April 13

SOLO moms is a fellowship and support group for single moms open to women everyone but especially for those in Ellis County. This is a great night of good conversation and fellowship for single moms.  Kristi Slate, our recommended church counselor, will be heading up group discussions on topics that single moms deal with daily.    Free childcare is provided in the church nursery area. Please reserve by Sunday before meeting.

Remember, if you miss any of the newsletters or need to see one again, we will now be archiving them. Check them out at http://waxahachiechamber.com/newsletter/default.php!     Have an awesome week! Michelle R. Finch Membership Director  Waxahachie Chamber Of Commerce & Convention and Visitors Bureau