September 2009 AACOG Region Newsletter

To promote a better quality of life and to remove hundreds of pounds of pollution from our air, AACOG and the San Antonio-Bexar County Metropolitan Planning Organization challenge area citizens to log 200,000 “smart” miles of walking, bicycling, busing, or carpooling/vanpooling this September. “Smart” miles improve your health, reduce traffic, and save gas and money. Prizes will be awarded to the individuals who log the most miles in each of the four competition categories (Cycling, Walking, Busing, and Carpooling/Vanpooling) in an awards ceremony during the Live Green Fest in Olmos Basin Park on October 10, 2009. For more information about the Challenge, visit www.walkandrollchallenge.com.

Tim Treviño joined AACOG on August 3, 2009 to serve as the Director of Public Relations, for the newly created department. Mr. Treviño holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Southwestern University and a Master in City Planning, with a concentration in International Development and Regional Planning, from MIT. Mr. Treviño began his professional career with the Middle Rio Grande Development Council of Governments, in Uvalde, Texas, as a Senior Planner for Solid Waste and Community Development. He subsequently transitioned to the North American Development Bank, where he served as Senior Project Specialist, responsible for developing new-sector infrastructure projects; promoting business development opportunities; and serving as liaison to the Canadian International Development Agency and Industry Canada-Sustainable Cities Initiative. His most recent post was with Aircraft Management International, a Toluca, Mexico based firm, serving as Vice President of Finance.

Ben Herr became the new Regional Transportation Director on August 3, 2009. Ben received his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Minnesota and his Master of Arts in Management from Webster University. He is designated as a Certified Community Transit Manager (CCTM) from the Community Transportation Association of America. For the past four years, Ben served as the Executive Director of the Texas Transit Association in Austin, and was previously with the Public Transportation Division of the Texas Department of Transportation. In 2000, Ben retired as a Lieutenant Colonel from the US Army after 20 years of service.

AACOG will host a workshop in September on behalf of the Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC) in the AACOG Al J. Notzon III Board Room, 8700 Tesoro Drive, Suite 100, San Antonio, TX 78217. On September 28, from 2:30 to 5:30, HARC will hold a Hydrogen Education Workshop that will be open to anyone interested in the latest in hydrogen technology such as fuel cells, and applications including transportation. This afternoon session will include an "idea session" related to introduction of / applications of hydrogen-powered vehicles & transportation in the community. For more information about this workshop, click here. To register for the workshop, e-mail H2101@harc.edu or call (281) 363-7980.

AACOG's Alamo Service Connection (ASC) was recently recognized by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Nominations Committee for providing outstanding consumer information and referrals through Innovation and Technology. ASC Access & Assistance Coordinator Martha Ramirez accepted the Information & Referral for Seniors Through Innovative Technology award at the 19th Annual Celebration of the ADA, which was held on July 31, 2009, at La Villita in San Antonio, Texas. To view photos of the event, click here.

Celebrating Grandparents Day on September 13, 2009, brings images of happy treks to deliver gifts only a Grandma could love. The growing reality of American family life is that six million children, 8% of children in the U.S., are being raised by their Grandparents. Substance abuse, family violence, incarceration, mental illness, unemployment and divorce contribute to 1 in 12 children in the U.S. being raised by Grandparents. These numbers include over 600,000 children in Texas and the number is growing in every state. Financial, emotional, health and school issues as well as the logistical problems of getting children to school and medical appointments are faced daily by seniors already dealing with aging issues.

AACOG’s Alamo and Bexar Area Agencies on Aging (AAAs) offer a variety of services for Grandparents and other Kin raising children not their own under the age of 18. Utility assistance, respite care, and support groups are part of the assistance offered by these programs. Caregiver Specialist Nellie Garay’s work with Grandparents in Bexar County was recognized nationally recently at the National Area Agencies on Aging (N4A) Conference.

Working locally, statewide and nationally with other advocates of Grandparents raising Grandchildren issues, both AAA's give AACOG’s twelve member governments and their Grandparent constituent’s access to much needed information and services. For more information about services for Atascosa, Bandera, Comal, Frio, Gillespie, Guadalupe, Karnes, Kendall, Kerr, Medina and Wilson Counties, please call Alamo Area Agency on Aging toll-free at 1-866-231-4922, ext. 276 or directly at (210) 362-5276. For more information about services in Bexar County, please call the AACOG Bexar Area Agency on Aging at (210) 362-5271 or click here.

View Event Flyer

During “Falls Prevention Awareness Week”, September 21-25, 2009, AACOG is planning various events and activities designed to provide information to seniors about preventing falls through physical activity, home safety, medication management, family awareness, and AACOG’s “Matter of Balance” courses. We will kick off the week with a press conference at the Northeast Senior Center on September 21. For information about participating on the planning committee for Falls Prevention Week, or to attend the upcoming press conference, please contact AACOG Alamo Aging Director Debbie Billa at (210) 362-5240 or dbilla@aacog.com.

On September 10, 2009, new Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) rules will go into effect requiring additional measures for mulching and composting operations in Bexar County. The rules were a result of House Bill 2541, from the 80^th Legislature in 2007. They are codified in 30 Texas Administrative Code 328.4(g) and establishes requirements for previously exempt, non-permitted and non-registered municipal solid waste recyclers that store combustible material for producing mulch or compost. The new requirements include:

time limits for processing and removing combustible materials from the facility;
limit the amount of combustible materials stored;
limit the size of piles;
require fire lanes;
require buffer zones from the facility boundary; and
establish more stringent standards for these same facilities that are located on the recharge or transition zone of the Edwards Aquifer.

Affected owners and operators are required to submit a new or revised “Notice of Intent to Operate a Recycling Facility” by September 10, 2009. To view the new rules and obtain the required “Notice of Intent to Operate a Recycling Facility” form (TCEQ Form 20049) click here, or for local TCEQ assistance call Laressa Wong at (210) 403-4039 or Trish Esquivel at (210) 403-4028.

On Thursday, October 1, 2009, from 8:30 a.m. to 12 noon, AACOG will host our quarterly 3-hour Notary Law and Procedure Seminar for current, new, and non-notary participants that would like to receive their Texas notary public commission.

Dixie Lucey, Director of Education for the State Notary Commission in Austin, Texas, will teach the seminar at AACOG's Al J. Notzon III Board Room, 8700 Tesoro Drive, Suite 100 (first floor), San Antonio, TX 78217. The cost of the seminar including the course manual is $150.00 per person. The state application and bond fee for non-notaries, or those who would like to renew their commissions, is $105.00 for a 4-year term.

Click here to view the flyer for this event.

For more information contact:
Dixie Lucey, Director of Education, State Notary Commission
PO Box 10141, Austin, TX 78766
dixielucey@prodigy.net | Phone (512) 497-2253

The State Notary Commission is an educational organization founded in 1990 to promote and enhance the education of notary publics statewide.

Homeowners are invited to attend a free Foreclosure Prevention Workshop on Saturday, October 3, 2009, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The workshop will be held at the El Progresso Hall, 1306 Guadalupe Street, San Antonio, TX 78207. The workshop is presented by AACOG, the City of San Antonio, the Department of Community Initiatives, and the Avenida Guadalupe Association.

The workshop will be a valuable opportunity for homeowners to meet privately with representatives from area banks, mortgage companies, lenders, the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development officials, and certified housing counselors to discuss and learn about mortgage assistance and options available to homeowners to prevent foreclosure. Besides mortgage lenders and certified housing counselors, homeowners will also have the opportunity to visit with non-profit housing counseling agencies.

Free parking and refreshments will be available. Seating is limited so for more information or to reserve your seat call (210) 207-5910.

On Wednesday, August 18, AACOG, the city of Natalia, and Medina County, co-hosted a community awareness workshop to inform citizens of the wide variety of programs and services AACOG offers to the Alamo Region.

"Partnering with AACOG and bringing help to our citizens is very exciting and I was extremely pleased with the turnout. This one program will provide savings to our citizens in the form of energy as well as financial so it is a "win-win" situation for us all," said city of Natalia Mayor Ruby Vera.

More than 60 Natalia residents attended the workshop at the Natalia High School to learn about four specific programs: Alamo Regional Transit's rural transportation services; Medicare Part D assistance through the Alamo Area Agency on Aging; Weatherization Assistance; and job seeker and employer services through Workforce Solutions-Alamo Career Center. Twenty-five families who completed the Weatherization Assistance application process and submitted all required documentation were approved on-site.

For more information about any of the programs highlighted at the workshop, contact AACOG at (210) 362-5200. To find out how to host an AACOG workshop in your area, please contact AACOG Public Relations Director Tim Treviño at (210) 832-5089.

Showcasing the best of Alamo Area’s people, places and progressive business climate, the Business Images of the Alamo Area magazine reinforces the area’s favorable quality of place while also targeting prospective residents, employees, businesses and visitors. The magazine will be distributed by AACOG, as well as through key local businesses, trade shows, conferences and events throughout the year.

The Business Images Alamo Area Web site, also features fresh, new extended content, video, photo galleries and more. Visit the Web site and click on "Link to us" to instantly enrich your Web site with engaging community content.

To submit story ideas for the 2010 Business Images of the Alamo Area magazine, contact Tiffany Harris at (210) 362-5204. For information on advertising in the magazine, contact Andrea Joiner at (800) 333-8842.

The 2010 Texas Conference on Aging (TCoA) will be held in Kerrville from March 21-24, 2010. This statewide conference is designed for aging professionals with both administrative and direct service responsibilities who work in a broad range of community-based settings. This annual conference promotes excellence in service delivery through the sharing of technical assistance, best practices, and management tools.

The theme for 2010 “Deep in the Heart of Aging” reflects our passion and commitment to serving older Texans and their families. The event is hosted by the the Texas Association of Area Agencies on Aging (T4A), the Texas Association of Aging Programs (TAAP), and Texas Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS).

Numerous sponsorship opportunities are available. For more information, please contact Debbie Billa at (210) 362-5240 or visit www.texasconferenceonaging.org.

AACOG will host the 2010 Texas Conference on Regionalism from September 15-17, 2010. Local organizations have an opportunity to support and participate in the 2010 conference through sponsorship. Sponsors will have access to more than 400 decision makers from across the state. From exhibit space to conference signage, sponsorship levels accommodate businesses of all sizes and provides generous benefits to donors. To find out more about sponsoring this exciting conference, contact Brenda Williams at (210) 362-5246 or Tiffany Harris at (210) 362-5204. To become a sponsor or exhibitor, click here to fill out and return the sponsorship form.

The AACOG Region Newsletter is compiled and distributed monthly
by Tiffany Harris, AACOG Public Relations.