May 2008 AACOG Region Newsletter

AACOG is please to announce the debut of Business Images of the Alamo Area 2008, a spectacular new magazine promoting economic growth and development in the Alamo region.

AACOG and key area businesses will distribute the magazine to prospective new businesses, employees and residents. Copies will also go out to attendees at various trade shows, conferences and events throughout the year.

Business Images of the Alamo Area is part of a complete publishing program that also includes an online edition of the magazine, a photographic streaming-video tour of the region, a targeted distribution network and a customer retention and acquisition program.

This unique marketing tool is truly a collaborative effort, and we sincerely thank all of the area businesses that supported the project through advertising. Business Images of the Alamo Area is published annually. For information on how your company or business can be a part of the next edition, please contact our publishing partner, Journal Communications, directly at (800) 333-8842 or e-mail jramos@aacog.com.

We invite you to visit the online magazine and get connected! Enrich your Web site instantly with engaging regional content. Go to imagesalamoarea.com, “Links” and “Link To Us.” You are also invited to request a copy of the magazine by calling (210) 362-5204 or e-mailing mail@aacog.com.

The Alamo & Bexar Area Agencies on Aging host several events in honor of Older Americans Month in May. Events include a Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon on May 2, a Law Enforcement Conference entitled "Elder Abuse in Our Community: What is in it for me as an officer?" on May 15, a Texercise Walk & Ice Cream Social on May 23, and a conference for seniors, caregivers, & professionals on May 29. For more information about Older Americans Month events, contact mail@aacog.com or call the Bexar Area Agency on Aging at 1-800-960-5201.

Gas prices are rising, obesity and diabetes rates are climbing, and our air quality is getting worse. Then why are we still driving alone in our cars and trucks? The MPO’s Walk & Roll program offers healthy, economical, and environmentally-friendly solutions to each of these problems through bicycling, walking, carpooling and transit. To kick off the 2008 Walk & Roll season, we have three exciting Walk & Roll events coming up in May.

Walk & Roll to Work Rally - Friday, May 2, 2008, from 8-9 a.m. -This annual event highlights healthy and economical alternatives to driving to work alone. The Rally will be held in the newly renovated Main Plaza at 8 am Friday morning May 2^nd. Free refreshments, door prizes, and informational exhibits are planned. The city and county celebrate healthy transportation choices with a short morning walk or bicycle ride for employees to attend the Rally. All Downtown businesses are encouraged to participate in the Rally. VIA Metropolitan Transit is providing free bus transportation for cyclists again this year on Walk&Roll to Work Day. Walking and cycling starting point maps for the Rally are at www.walkandrollSA.com.

Walk & Roll Fest - Bike month continues with a family event on Saturday, May 10, 2008. Join the MPO and our transportation partners and healthy exhibitors at the San Antonio Botanical Gardens from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Activities include a long bicycle ride of approximately 26 miles, a family bicycle ride through Brackenridge Park, and 5K and 10K walks, walks in the garden, information booths, and children's activities. Participation is free and includes admission to Botanical for the day to the first 750 participants.

AACOG Walk & Roll Corporate Challenge Project Officer Rally - Thursday, May 22, 2008, 12 p.m.-1:30 p.m. Employers in the AACOG region – governments, businesses, and other organizations – are encouraged to send representatives to a Project Officer Rally in the Al J. Notzon III Boardroom to learn about the 2008 Walk & Roll Corporate Challenge and how they can participate in this important event. The month-long Corporate Challenge is held each June to promote alternatives to single-occupant vehicle commutes to and from the workplace. For more information about the 2008 Walk & Roll Corporate Challenge and Project Officer Rally, contact Brenda Williams at (210) 362-5246 or bwilliams@aacog.com.

For more information on Walk & Roll 2008 and other exciting fitness events in the region, call Scott Ericksen at (210) 230-6902 or Lydia Kelly at (210) 230-6911 or visit www.walkandrollsa.com.

Alamo WorkSource will officially unveil its new branding and name change to Workforce Solutions-Alamo in May 2008. The agency identity change will be communicated through a city-wide job fair in Bexar County and Open Houses in various surrounding counties. Scheduled events include:

May 12, 2008- Atascosa County-Pleasanton Career Center Open House, 206 N. Smith Street, Pleasanton, 10:30-11:30 a.m. (10:30 Ribbon Cutting)
May 14, 2008- Bexar County-S. Flores Career Center Press Conference/Job Fair, 6723 S. Flores, San Antonio, Press Conference 9:15, Job Fair 10 a.m. - 3 p.m.
May 19, 2008- Comal County-New Braunfels Career Center Open House, 183 IH 35 X., New Braunfels, 10:30-11:30 a.m. (10:30 Ribbon Cutting)
May 19, 2008- Guadalupe County-Seguin Career Center Open House, 1500 East Court Street, Suite 444, Seguin, 2 p.m. - 3 p.m. (2:30 Ribbon Cutting)
May 20, 2008- Kerr County-Kerrville Career Center Open House, 819 Water Street, Suite 116, Kerrville, 10:30-11:30 a.m. (10:30 Ribbon Cutting)

To find out more about the name change, visit the Workforce Solutions' new website at www.workforcesolutionsalamo.org.

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AACOG will start a full-time Basic Peace Officer Academy on May 27. As a result of this full-time (8:30 -5:30) training, students will complete the course and become TCLEOSE certified Peace Officers in approximately six months, as opposed to the 11 to 12 months part-time academy classes take. Several local law enforcement agencies have agreed to hire and sponsor cadets through this full-time academy.

Thanks to the assistance of Officer Mike McFerrin with the New Braunfels PD, the academy will provide this full-time academy class to local law enforcement at no extra cost to the agencies other than what it would cost to hire a first year police officer. If your police department might be interested in how it can hire and sponsor police cadets through AACOG’s academy, please contact the academy at mail@aacog.com or (210) 362-5291 or visit www.aacog.com/lawenforcementacademy.

AACOG is proud to announce that Bexar Area Agency on Aging Director Carol Zernial was recently awarded the 2008 Texas Conference on Aging Outstanding Professional in Aging Award. Carol is a shining example of a forward thinking AAA Director and has worked tirelessly to bring evidence based programming to not only her own Bexar County region but to the State of Texas as well. Read this article...

On Saturday, May 3, 2008, between 8 and 9:30 a.m., more than a dozen area car clubs will depart from the San Antonio Botanical Gardens parking lot (555 Funston) on their journey along the historic Alamo-La Bahia Corridor for AACOG’s 19^th Annual Classic Car Cruise.

Participating communities on the Corridor are Elmendorf, Dewees, Floresville, Pleasanton, Jourdanton, Falls City, Karnes City, Cestohowa, Panna Maria, Helena, Goliad, Stockdale, and La Vernia. Besides the refreshments served at local hospitality stops, many of the communities will feature other activities such as live entertainment, historic tours, community museums, and shopping in unique venues. Read more about the classic cruise...

The 4th annual Texas Citizen Corps Conference will be held June 3-4, at the Sheraton Gunter Hotel in San Antonio. The conference is sponsored by the Texas Association of Regional Councils, and is open to anyone interested in the Citizen Corps program, including regional councils of governments, local, state, and federal agencies, volunteers, emergency management professionals, first responder and other interested parties. For more information visit www.texascitizencorps.org.

Nine (9) local governments recently received solid waste grants through the AACOG Resource Recovery Grant Program. The funds are from the solid waste pass-through funding from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ). Major goals for this funding are to increase waste diversion through recycling, ensure proper handling of Household Hazardous Waste (HHW), stop illegal dumping through local enforcement and education outreach on recycling and other aspects of waste diversion.

Twenty-four applications were received with a total of $1,463,011.16. Total available funds for FY 2008 was $675,855.09.

The following is a list of local government projects that received solid waste pass-through funding from TCEQ through AACOG:

Bexar County: Local Enforcement equipment and educational materials
City of Boerne: Educational mail out and flyer
City of Christine: Chipper/trailer with print materials
City of Floresville: Baler, brush grabber loader for recycling brush materials
City of New Braunfels: Recycling mascot and educational materials
City of Pleasanton: One day HHW event
City of San Antonio: Trailer for mulch handling, educational outreach materials and equipment
City of Seguin: Recycling containers for public areas
Wilson County: One-day HHW/Educational Event

For more information about Solid Waste Pass-Through funding from TCEQ, please contact Georgia Zannaras, Resource Recovery Manager, at (210) 362-5287.

AACOG's Mission:
To enhance the lives of all residents of the Alamo Region by working in mutual respect and partnership with all levels of government, the business sector, and the community at large to meet regional challenges and to create regional strengths.