Grilled to the gills: The place to go for upscale southern comfort food in Fort Worth is Vidalia’s Restaurant in the Renaissance Worthington Hotel. And with summer nearly upon us, chef James Morris and food and beverage director Robbie Tawil thought a June 4 BBQ and grilling cooking school would be most appropriate. Five winners will attend this class in the Vidalia’s kitchen from 3-5 p.m., then each may have a guest join them for a fabulous grilled dinner – including wine -- at the restaurant.
Power pointers: Is your speech littered with huh, like, and, ahhh, you know? The CrossGroup, management consultants that improve business performance and profit, have Cliff Noted its two-day Presentation Skills seminar into a 4-hour session that focuses on three aspects of effective presentations: controlling nervousness, projecting confidence and holding your audience’s attention. It’s a godsend for speakers and sales people and we’ve got eight spots for the June 2 presentation (8:30 a.m.-1 p.m., including lunch).
Movie madness: The past few years, the Modern Art Museum of Fort Worth has put together a summer six-pack of classic art movies as part of its Magnolia at the Modern Film Series. Kendal (jump in the) Lake says this year’s digital dramas run weekly from May 29 through July 5 and she’s given us a season pass for two. On the marquee are Cherry Blossoms, Adoration, Every Little Step, Amarcord, Easy Virtue and Lemon Tree.
| | | |
| PICTURE OF THE WEEK | | | | |  | | | | |
More than 200 showed up at Bell Helicopter’s Customer Center and Training Academy at Alliance last Thursday to hear Bell CEO Dick Millman. Here’s (l to r) Allison Pino, American Red Cross; Andrew Boster, Richard Maxwell and Detra Whitmire, all with loyal sponsor The T; checking out one of the tilt-rotor aircraft on display in Bell’s hanger.
| | | Sponsored by | |
|  | | | | | | |
|
Tee for two: You know those golf outings where sponsors buy hole signs? The Texas Millionaires Chorus has a fundraising tournament June 13 at Lost Creek in Aledo and at each tee box is a group of singers to serenade you – Eye of the Tiger, You Phil Up My Senses, Aces & 8s. Two winners will get a chance to play, maybe harmonize, beginning with an 8 a.m. shotgun start and followed by lunch.
Inside scoop: If you missed the Leaders in Government luncheon, former deputy secretary of defense Gordon England said:
- “People should appreciate their freedom and be thankful for those who EARNED that for them. It’s not an inalienable right. Someone earned it for you.”
- After 9/11, it was the time for firm, hard leadership. “I believe had we not responded forcefully we would have been in dire, dire straits. I am convinced the reason no one else attacked America is because of Bush, Rumsfeld and the military.”
- The economic crisis will have a greater effect on the world than 9/11. Our influence will wane because of our debt. China’s will increase. Power and influence goes with financial strength.
- Upcoming hot spot? “One quarter of the world’s population has access to the web. Technologies that bind us have the ability to divide us because some cultures will view the Internet as a threat to their beliefs and traditions, creating conflict.”
- A kid, swine flu-ed out of school, asked him where all those guys were (security) that used to travel with him. England responded he didn’t have those any more, he was not with the government. The kid asked why? He explained when a new administration comes in, new people come and the old ones sometimes leave. Kid says, “Oh, you were FIRED.”
Very visual: Justin Davis, the visual coordinator for Dean-Kingston boutique on Foch St. is very visual hisownself…with blond – and blue – hair.
Aces abound: The Crowne Plaza Invitational at Colonial tournament has a special free Memorial Day treat beginning at 4:15 Monday. Anthony Kim, one of the world’s Top 15 players, will lead the Nike Golf Youth Clinic & Concert. Then Savannah, got to be ranked in the Top 15 on Radio Disney, will perform after the clinic.
|  |
ID crisis? Carroll Burney, Director of Marketing for Girls Inc. of Tarrant County, sent Mr. B a nomination form for the Strong & Bold woman awards that will be presented at the No Limits Luncheon August 14. Hmmmm. Does she know something?
Celebrity sighting/name dropping: You’ll never know who you will see at a Chamber business breakfast. The city’s BEST networker, former Mayor Bob Bolen, attended one last week to hear Winston Dixon of Select Acquisitions talk about procuring federal contracts.
Save that art: Little Johnny’s school-age “masterpieces” are worth saving. Ya never know when the Kimbell Art Museum might come calling for its next Michelangelo.
|
 |
Bronc busted: Billy Minick is recuperating after having been unceremoniously bucked. The Billy Bob's Texas owner suffered a badly broken leg.
IMPACT-ful: Things Mr. B learned at the first TECH Fort Worth IMPACT Awards for new companies and new technologies that could change the world:
- Mark Denissen, VP Worldwide Strategic Marketing for Texas Instruments, says the 2010 decade will be “Sensory Swarm.” It will be a world without batteries and power cords. He says 65 percent of energy created is lost in conversion and distribution.
- A company is offering homes in a bag for $2,000. The emergency shelter home is targeted for disaster areas and the homeless.
- There’s a new, more affordable video laryngoscope available for intubations. Despite what you see on medical TV, one in 14 intubations goes awry.
On the menu: Dannon has signed on as presenting sponsor for the Chamber’s Annual Meeting Luncheon June 9 and items vying for a spot on the menu includes yogurt fruit smoothies, lemon yogurt/pecan crusted breast of chicken, vanilla yogurt baked beans and key lime yogurt pie.
Improving the exchange rate: Beautiful Alex Ferguson, daughter of Summit Press VP Reagan Ferguson, just biked China with the TCU Supply Chain group. Dad, meanwhile, was filming a video spot at WaveLight Studios for his company’s website.
|  |
Will work for meter money: Danny Smith, HEAD teller for JPMorgan Chase in this area, told a crowd of 900 at the Entrepreneur Expo luncheon that the bank was the largest capitalized one in the country and was loaning money! Woo Hoo! But when Mr. B needed 50 cents to run out and stick it in a parking meter, Danny couldn’t (wouldn’t?) make the loan.
Free marketing ADvice: Mr. B – obviously -- proclaims Newz-E-Letter as the best Chamber advertising vehicle. But there is one that’s a close second, especially if you want to reach 70-80 business owners and leaders six times a year. It’s presenting sponsor of Getting to Know Your Chamber, an introductory session for new members. Sponsor is Romo-mania-ed, treated royally. If you provide services to smaller businesses, it’s a golden opportunity for $2k a year.
Free marketing ADvice II: Attend the May 27 HealthMarkets Minding Your Business at the Marriott Residence Inn Cultural District. Jason Smith of Arcos Creative will expert you on marketing, including social media.
Kudos: Congrats to Oscar Oaxaca of Basecom, Inc., who was selected Businessman of the Year by the Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Other honorees at the annual gala were Elizabeth Ponce of Ponce Contractors, Sonia Trevino of EECU, Cherie Gordon and Rollin Bredenberg of BNSF Railway, Tarrant County’s Velina Willis and Steve Newton of Baylor All Saints.
|  |
Jokin’ around: Ask Suzanna Gonzalez of Hawk Electronics to tell you her serial killer joke. Then ask her about her free Blackberry offer.
Not horsin’ around: The American Paint Horse Foundation needs new or gently used cowboy boots for young riders. The Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to improving lives through interaction with horses, will donate the boots to kids going to Camp Carter YMCA.
Save the Date notice: Smelling like BBQ after a Ranch Rodeo in Abilene, Lisa Fiehweg rushed back to town for a smokin’ surprise. Scott Cartwright asked her to marry him, and the Furniture Market Manager for Corporate Express (A Staples Co.) will, on Oct. 2, 2010.
|  | |
