Fort Worth Chamber's Newz-E-Letter: April 9, 2008

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For Members, About Members	April 9, 2008
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PICTURE OF THE WEEK!

During last week's Chamber Day at the Speedway luncheon, Eddie Gossage, president of Texas Motor Speedway, interviewed NASCAR commentator and former driver Darrel Walltrip. His stories of other drivers, his worst crashes and climbing to the top gave great insight into the life and mind of a NASCAR driver.

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Get on the bus, Gus: No giveaways…just yet. But a huge thanks to The Fort Worth Transportation Authority – The T -- the newest Gold Sponsor of Newz-E-Letter.

Night to remember: Tournament guru Peter Ripa was pretty adamant about not giving Mr. B Crowne Plaza Colonial tickets to give away (read: scalp), even in the Newz-E-Letter, but the great folks at the Marriott-Courtyard University said, “Hey, come on over and watch all the street scenes (read: scalping tickets and parking spots). OK, scalping is illegal, and of course, it doesn’t really happen anywhere in Fort Worth. But this night’s stay at the Marriott is the real deal and it’s a great getaway with little or no gas necessary.

Sign of the fun times: Mr. B has been shuttling to and fro lately to Miami as a stunt double for David Caruso in CSI: Miami. “OK, B, tilt your head…a little more…a bit more. Now turn sideways and speak.” The hours are long and the flights often delayed between the two stormy paradises. So, it’s nice to have the Super Shuttle ExecuCar available whenever you arrive and to walk out thinking you’re important when the guy in the hat holds up that sign: “Mr. B.” Woo hoo, that could be you if you win this round trip with ExecuCar to and from the airport.

High wattage: One of the most dynamic thinker/speakers in the country is J.C. Watts, who was a professor of son NoBGood’s Your Father Doesn’t Know Everything class at the University of Oklahoma. Many of you remember Watts as the Oklahoma QB that confounded Texas. Some of you remember Watts as a former congressman. And probably none of you remember Watts as a CNN analyst. But remember this: if you can get to his breakfast talk April 23 at TCU’s Tandy Executive Speaker Series, you should. Mr. B can get seven of you in if you dare sit with him.

Hosed down: Mr. B just got his first $15,000 gas royalty check for the B Mansion, which sits atop a gusher. (OK, $15k might be a bit high, but it’s a negotiating ploy against boss Miserly Mistress as we begin contract renewal talks.) The drilling is a bit close and B’s Neon has gathered a little dust and some smirches. But a drive through Jerry’s Express Car Wash and now the clean, mean machine has tripled in value, all the way up to $600. Your car can look as be-you-tee-full if you win one of two $25 gift cards from Jerry’s.

Arts and eats: Mr. B usually tries to catch First Fridays at The Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth, but never goes to Modern ’til Midnight because it costs money. But buddy Kendall Smith insisted that B be there Friday, April 18 and she sent along four extra sets of two admissions. Not only can you see the Martin Puryear and the opening of FOCUS: Kehinde Wiley exhibits, but you can listen to music from the Trimble Tech HS band, Yellow Fever, The Theater Fire, PPT and Strange Fruit Project, and have dinner at Cafe' Modern.

A little Rin Tin Tin music: Fort Worth (717,000) is loaded with newcomers, and they can get ed-u-kated quickly now that we've got the Heritage Trails markers, 22 bronze sidewalk markers throughout downtown. Could be a good scavenger hunt, sponsored of course by an oil & gas company. Check out Main Street, from Heritage Park to the Water Gardens, and learn the story of Fort Worth’s history, people, places and events. There's also going to be three kiosks, which will serve as downtown directories and provide Heritage Trails guide maps. Heritage Trails is a joint project of the Fort Worth Chamber Foundation, Fort Worth Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Downtown Fort Worth, Inc. (Visit www.fortworthheritagetrails.com for more info)

Rig of a deal: If you were wondering … when Chesapeake Energy takes naming rights and control of the Pier 1 Imports building for $104 million around June 1, the sale includes ownership of the mineral rights. Duh!

A real gas: Wonder if Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Terrell Owens wants to partner with Bob Simpson to try and win naming rights to the team’s stadium: X-T.O.?

No Bridezilla here: A lonely Mr. B usually gets saddened by wedding announcements, but this is too good to ignore. First-timers Becky Renfro of Renfro Foods and Henry Borbolla III, a VP of Private Banking with Compass Bank, will be married November 21. Mandatory first dance is a salsa.

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All rise: Welcome to Frederic White, the new dean of the law school at Texas Wesleyan University.

More of the unsubstantiated: Word is gracious and gregarious Ted Blevins, head of Lena Pope Home, has recommended the board find his replacement by December 2009.

One & counting: Mr. B has lasted one (shaky) week so far under the regime of new Chamber chairman Ben Loughry of Integra Realty Resources. Ben officially takes the gavel at the Annual Meeting, June 12.

Am-ster-DAM: The Open Skies Treaty has new American Airlines flights to Amsterdam. Anyone know why son NoBGood is so eager to go?
Growing concern: The University of North Texas Health Science Center is keeping pace with 7th Street and the City of Fort Worth’s growth. Sir-President-Dr. Scott Ransom, Esq. says the school has added 140 faculty members the past 18 months. And research grants are $3 million ahead of budget despite a 12 percent cut in government funding.

Seeing the future: The TECH Fort Worth Acceleration Lab opened last week at UNTHSC. There are wet labs and office space for start-up technology companies that “will bring jobs to Fort Worth,” according to Darlene Ryan, executive director of TECH Fort Worth. 3M—Mayor Mike Moncrief—said “one of my goals is to make Fort Worth a technology center. We have an opportunity to become a magnet …people with ideas, concepts, dreams that we can help make reality…something that will enhance our quality of life.”

Not a pickup move: If Reagan Ferguson, VP at Summit Press, was winking at you recently, it’s only because he had surgery to implant an Intraocular Contact Lens.

Free exposure: Chamber, TCU and The T are among the sponsors of a free Transition and Disability Resource Expo April 24. Free booth space and free attendance. Contact Barbara at bbaganz@fortworthchamber.com for more info.

Fun to fish: Mr. B will be at LaGrave Field Saturday about 4 p.m. for the big crawfish party, hosted by the Fort Worth Cats to honor that great Cajun -- Wendy Kent Churchill -- and benefiting the Loeys Dietz Foundation. All the Crawfish B can eat and cold beer son NoBGood can drink for $10. And the (in)famous Poo Live Crew (an ’80s cover band) will be playing.

“No, no, no!” A Chamber member delegation is in Washington D.C. as you read, meeting with area congressional folks. Mr. B asked Big Boss Bill if he could go and represent the Chamber. Lockheed's Eric Fox threatened to drop out.

Not feelin’ groovy: Congresswoman Kay Granger is not sufficiently recovered from recent surgery and the Chamber’s Leaders in Government luncheon at the Petroleum Club Friday is postponed. It will be re-scheduled.

Did you see? Logix’s Lou DeRosa has a white cashmere sports jacket. Holy Miami Vice.

Just fab! A new, 15,452-square-foot Frank Kent Buick-Pontiac-GMC dealership will occupy the old GMC building some time this winter. Speed Fab-Crete again is the design-build general contractor for Frank Kent Motor Co.

Usurped by kids: Allen Irwin, of Cindy Irwin’s Farmers Insurance agencies, is a take-requests piano man occasionally at Café Aspen. “No lessons. He plays by ear,” says Cindy. Daughter Missy is a radio producer and recently had Paula Abdul as an in-studio guest.

Walk this way: Chamber doesn’t have to go far for a ribbon cutting tomorrow…like three floors down to Lighthouse Marketing Group in the Fort Worth Club. Larry and Becky Knox of Knox Real Estate have opened a larger office, this one at 410 Mercedes in Benbrook and there’s a ribbon cutting there April 15. If you’re not too taxed, drop by. Ribbon Cutting, Business After Hours and other event photos are at the Chamber website.