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FACES & PLACES 
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Better come hungry: If you're a Texan, natural or here as soon as you were able, and you want to die and go to heaven before you die and go to heaven, then smoke on this slice of brisket a while. The 2017 Fort Worth Food and Wine Festival opens in the pits from 6-9 p.m. March 30 with Texas' most iconic food... BARBECUE. Get in the queue for this 'cue from 15 pit masters smokin' between the Hill Country up through north Texas. There will be plenty of the best beverages and music to pair with the best barbecue. With these two tickets courtesy of the food committee, Reata Restaurant and Jenna Simard at Balcom Agency, you'll be able to chow down and help choose the best BBQ of the festival.
My, what big teeth ...: The Little is gone and this big-time, re-imagined story features a more Rye Red Riding Hood. It's a Casa Mañana musical and Red is traipsing through the Black Forest Cake trying to get to MeeMaw's house in an effort to secure some dough to save her mother's bakery, which is barely making Apple Crumb Pie in profit. There is a Big Bad Wolf, and he's a Focaccia, which is "a charmer" in Italian. Casa says no one is who they seem and adventure awaits at every turn of Red Riding Hood. Lindsey rushed over a family four-pack of seats to the March 24 performance.
 Wonder what coffee will be served? Howard (not related to Joy) Behar is retired. Except for the books. The speeches. The mentoring. The seats on boards of directors. Yes, Behar is retired. For 21 years, he was Starbucks' President of North America. He was Founding President of Starbucks International, and was on the board for 12 years. Tuesday, April 4, he'll be "working retired" and interviewed by TCU Neeley School of Business Dean (He's a) Homer Erekson. It's the final Tandy Executive Speaker Series breakfast for 2016-2017 and the Frog financiers have brewed some real caffeine to get your day started.
Press-ing concern: More and more companies are doing their PR and marketing through social media channels. Sending out news or story pitches to the media to get coverage is something companies can do theirownselves. (B2B Insider does suggest hiring content experts...just sayin'.) But you have to know who to reach out to and PR princess Andra (not in my) House of the Chamber has compiled the most up-to-date and definitive FW / D media directory of the past 47 years. And while you're waiting to hear back from the media, you can turn the pages of the Chamber's coffee table book, Energized for the Future. Enter for both.
Congratulations to March 1st Prize Winners:
- Cynthia Beving, Beving Books
- Julie Wright, Painting with a Twist
- Bill Sims, Steamatic
- (Gov.) Greg Abbott, Zenith Roofing
- Angela Hall, Trademark Property Management
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HE SAID, SHE SAID, THEY SAID
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Tax (un)burdens: For you business owners conversant in this Greek-speak, tax tiger Susan Roberts of CLA points out the Bonus Depreciation Extender is 50 percent for 2017, 40 percent next year, 30 percent in 2019 and then eliminated. Gone! It's for new property only and, unlike a Section 179, it can drive an accounting loss for your business.
Secret sauce: Buddy Puente, President-Operations of Chamber Small Business of the Year honoree Southwest Office Systems, shared his one titanic tip for success --"The secret," he said, "is hiring the very best people."
Laughing through tough loss: Blake Woodard of Woodard Insurance is looking forward to comedy troupe Four Day Weekend's 20th anniversary bash at Bass Performance Hall tomorrow night. "The last time I saw them was the same night as the (Texas) Rangers' miserable Game 6 in their World Series loss against the Cardinals," he said. "That night was both funny and sad."
Holy overworked: OK, 13 Chamber bosses, Mr. B admits he has been a slug, slouching it the past 12 years. At least in comparison to Angela Hall, who is double duty-ing it after having been named general manager AND marketing director at Trademark Property Co.'s Waterside and WestBend developments. She now is responsible for fiscal and physical management, relations with tenants, vendors and neighborhood stakeholders, consumer marketing, events, public relations and digital communications. Exhausting! 
Garage sale anyone? Saw re-designed logos for Bethesda Gardens, Underwood Law and Pinnacle Bank and wondered what happens to the merchandise with the old logo.
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"Concentrated cuteness."
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BB&T banker Nathan Draughn
with 3-year-old daughter at daycare Pajama Day
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 Proper PR 101: Television reporter / morning show host Jane McGarry says she receives so many e-mails from public relations people with story suggestions that -- "unless I know them or the subject line bowls me over" -- she doesn't open them. Delete. She says it's more important to contact a reporter in your specific industry with a story idea and offer "compelling content." McGarry spoke at the Chamber Impact Your Business program last week. She also suggested:
- If you are having a crisis situation and a reporter approaches with questions, answer with "Let me get back to you on that." Take time to gather your thoughts. Never say, "No comment."
- Before an interview, "Google the reporter and Google yourself. That's what the reporter has done."
- She highly recommends the Amy Cuddy Ted Talk on body language. Google it. More than 11 million have watched it.
- Blue, red and purple are the best colors for video / photos.
- Social media videos should be kept to 30 seconds. You can go longer for video on your website.
- Ties for guys? Only if you're comfortable wearing a tie. She predicts newscasters soon will forego ties.
On the way to 14th most populous: Comedian / Mayor Price Is Right says Fort Worth gets one new resident every 20 minutes. "Every one of them is on I-35." On a more serious note, she said the city's poverty level is higher than the U.S. average and called it "Unacceptable!"
And I don't have to carry a heavy golf bag? The perks of volunteering at the Dean and Deluca Invitational at Colonial Country Club are fabulous, dampened only by the fact volunteers actually work. All volunteers pay $85 dollars to be part of the team. In exchange they get two shirts, a cap, food (lunch and snacks) every day they work, beer (after their shifts), refreshments all day, a ringside seat inside the ropes, free parking and a pass to come to the tournament when not working. To top it off, some qualify to play a round of golf at Colonial. The standard volunteer works five 4-to-5 hour shifts. This year's tourney is May 22-28.
Successful Hunt: On its website, G.L. Hunt says it "has been built on a foundation of trust." No pun intended, ya think? Thirty years ago, G.L. Hunt Foundation Repair Company opened its door and Chamber Am-Bass-Adorables will be there March 23 at 4 p.m. to celebrate.
 Kudos: Twenty seven years ago, in March, boss Miserly Mistress started at the Chamber. She went by Marilyn Gilbert in those days. She was thrifty in olden days, even thriftier now. How thrifty? The communications veep of the Chamber has a zero-based budget. Starts at zero, pays Mr. B out of that and ends at zero. Nevertheless, she is well loved. Congrats, boss.
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MARK YOUR CALENDARS
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Date Event Name
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DIRECT MAIL STILL WORKS!
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 Use for direct mail to Chamber businesses. (Avery 5160)
Available formats:
- Geographic area set (North, South, Central, West, East; see map here. Contact Christine directly to order.)- $75 for Chamber members
- Full membership set (approx. 2,000 addresses)- $300 for Chamber members
Sorted by zip code. Visit our
eCommerce store to purchase (you must be logged in as a member to view "Members Only" products) or contact
Christine Gores
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