by
SETEDF | Wednesday, July 9, 2014 |
What a time I had on the evening of June 23 when I received
the Marvin Hurley Award, the highest recognition given by the Texas Chamber of
Commerce Executives at their annual meeting in College Station. I didn’t seek
and to my knowledge no one locally nominated me for the recognition. It was a
special tribute from my peers that was a total surprise and one of the nicest
things ever to happen to me. I begin my article with mention of the award
because I believe it represents recognition for our area and the progress we
have made on many levels. A personal tribute is great but I must share with the distinction with the many people who make a
difference for our organization and for our area.
An incident while in College Station reminded me of
something else. Life is very fragile and we are not too far from events and
circumstances that completely change our direction. My wife and I were served
at a restaurant by a waiter who I guessed was a Texas A&M student. So I
confirmed he was a student and asked him about his field of study. I discovered
he was a 23-year old student about to earn his Master’s Degree in August. I
further learned he was in College Station to care for his terminally ill
26-year old brother. Further conversation revealed both parents were deceased
and his only other sibling lived in Germany. I was blown away by the thought of
this young man facing another death of a loved one and his dedication to care
for his brother. At the same time he was clinging to his own education and life
goals. So the experience made me think about my own life………… We are called upon
to do good works for as long as we can do them. I intend to continue my journey
as the leader of the Greater Beaumont Chamber of Commerce for the near future.
I also recognize that events and circumstances can easily change the course of
a journey………... So there is no time to waste.
At a recent review of our progress for the year, someone
said if we don’t fix windstorm insurance, nothing else matters. It is hard to
fully calculate what the high cost of insurance means to new home buyers and
people seeking homes in our area. The difference between Jefferson County and
our neighboring counties is significant and can only get worse if there is a
catastrophic storm. The cost of insurance for a Jefferson County school
district is substantial yet the state formula for student funding does not take
the costs of insurance into account. We get substantially less to spend per
student in the classroom. Therefore, we are making windstorm insurance reform
our key state issue for the future. We are working to unite coastal communities
on a legislative solution; we are talking to professional consultants about a
campaign and a strategy to get support in Austin. We need to foster allies in a
position to help. It won’t be easy and progress will be incremental.
We receive a letter from a member more than angry about what
he witnessed at a recent BISD Board Meeting. Like many he is frustrated that
the problems continue with no resolution in sight. We understand completely but
are confident that matters pertaining to our school district will take a
positive turn once a board of managers is appointed and they begin the task of
hiring a new Superintendent. It is a matter of weeks but we will turn the
corner. Just as crucial as the recruitment of a new Superintendent will be the
recruitment of qualified financial management and human resource professionals.
If we can address the talent deficits of the district we can establish a
positive course for the future.
We are proud to work with Oiltanking on their $340 million
dollar expansion. Natgasoline is about to get their final permit to begin their
$1 billion dollar methanol plant. We are two more projects worth billions about
to be made public. Our legislation to authorize the deepening of the Sabine
Neches Ship Channel is now the law of the land. The CICE at Lamar University to
foster diversity and economic development is about to break ground. There are
expansions at the Port of Beaumont and throughout our area including a proposed
new convention hotel and water park. It
is a time of progress and great opportunities!