Leadership Update

MAY 2008

Enclosures:
Conference Volunteer Form

CALENDAR
Mar 1-May 31 Great American Cleanup
May 13 KTB Youth Award Nominations Due (in KTB office)
May 16 KTB Youth Award Judging Austin
May 25 Early Conference Registration Deadline
Jun 13 GAC/Trash-Off Wrap-Up Due
Jun 24-27 41 st Annual Keep Texas Beautiful Conference Irving
Year-Round Texas Waterway Cleanup Program

NEW KTB OFFICIAL AFFILIATE
Burkburnett

NEW KTB PROVISIONAL AFFILIATE
Bowie
Brookside Village
Salado
Sienna Plantation

NEW KAB PRE-CERTIFIED AFFILIATE
Killeen

REGISTER ONLINE FOR THE ANNUAL KTB CONFERENCE

KTB is excited to offer online registration for conference! This is a secure, fast, and easy way to register. Online registration is available at www.ktb.org/conference. The early registration deadline is May 25. Additional fees will be incurred for late and onsite registration.

CONFERENCE HOTEL ROOM BLOCK UPDATE
The KTB conference hotel, the Omni Mandalay Hotel at Las Colinas, is more than 60% full. Don’t wait any longer, book your rooms today! While the cut-off date for room reservations is Sunday, June 8, there is a high probability that the limited room block will be sold out before then. KTB will look into an overflow hotel once it is clear there is a need. To r eserve by phone,call1-888-444-OMNI (6664)*, or find the online reservation link at www.ktb.org/conference

*Ask for the “Keep Texas Beautiful” single/double room block rate of $115.00 (+ taxes).

SPECIALIZED CONFERENCE TRAININGS - TUESDAY, JUNE 24
Don’t miss the fantastic specialized trainings at this year’s conference! These half-day workshops cover specific topics in-depth and are led by experts in their field. For fees and times, visit www.ktb.org/conference. Please note that trainings are not included in registration packages.

Intro to Keep Texas Beautiful
This session gives new affiliates, board members, and staff an overview of KTB and covers such topics as board development, committees, and program involvement.

A Guide to Affiliate Coordination
Seasoned coordinators can get the tools and ideas that go beyond the fundamentals in this session. Experienced coordinators will be on hand to offer tips, tricks, and helpful information.

Waste In Place
The more than 30 lesson plans in Waste In Place arm educators with the resources to help students develop responsible attitudes about managing waste and preventing litter.

Combating Crime in a MySpace Era
Sergeant Dwight Waldo’s seminar will introduce participants to several social websites, focusing on MySpace. Learn how MySpace works and how to become a member to use it as a law enforcement tool in catching graffiti vandals.
Restricted to law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and city attorneys.

Celebrate What’s Right With The World!
Discover how asking “what’s right with the world?” can help you and your teammates find the vision and tools to jump-start projects and accomplish great things.
KAB coordinators only.

Stipes Elementary School Green Tour
Experience Irving’s new Stipes Elementary. Complete with goat-hair wallboards, rubberized floors, sun-splashed rooms, and free-running horses, it’s as "green-as-can-be". Transportation provided. Seating limited.

Williams Tower Walking Tour
Take a few steps across the street from the conference hotel to enjoy a top-to-bottom tour of one of Irving's most aggressive and successful green workplaces.

VOLUNTEER TO HELP AT CONFERENCE!
Our wonderful volunteers help make conference a success each year. We are looking for volunteers to give a little time to greet attendees, check-in speakers, and more. We appreciate any assistance you can give! To see a list of responsibilities and learn more, see the enclosed sign-up form.

GREAT AMERICAN CLEANUP/TRASH-OFF WRAP-UP REPORTS DUE NEXT MONTH
Wrap-up reports (including an online version) for the 2008 Great American Cleanup and/or Don’t Mess with Texas Trash-Off are now available at www.ktb.org/programs/gac. Forms are due to KTB no later than Friday, June 13. All complete forms (containing the Results Form and Supplemental Media and Thank You Forms) received by the deadline will be entered into a prize drawing for a Yard Vac Chipper-Shredder-Vacuum ($500 value).

PRE-ORDER YOUR KTB ORNAMENTS FOR CONFERENCE PICKUP
KTB will be unveiling the Fifth Edition Ornament at conference! This year’s ornament gives a nod to the beauty of West Texas and is once again wonderfully designed by Nelda Laney.  You can save time and money by placing your bulk order now and picking it up at conference! Bulk orders of 25 ornaments or more receive the reduced price of $14.40 per ornament (a 20% savings) and can be a mix of any of the five editions. By ordering now, you can save shipping charges that you will incur if you order after conference. Ornaments can be pre-signed*, personalized, and waiting for pick up!

To take advantage of this opportunity, email kimberly@ktb.org or call 1-800-CLEAN- TX by Monday, June 9 to place your bulk order. You may pay now or at the time of pick up.

*Note: Pre-signed ornament orders will be available the afternoon of Wed., June 25.

2009 CONFERENCE DATES AND HOTEL
42nd Annual KTB Conference
Houston, Texas
June 1-4, 2009
Marriott Houston Westchase
Room rate: $139 (+ taxes)

KTB YOUTH AWARD WINNERS
Thanks to everyone who applied for a KTB Youth Award. Winners will be posted online by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, May 20. To see the list of winners, visit www.ktb.org/awards/ktbawards.htm.

H-E-B AND KEEP TEXAS BEAUTIFUL INTRODUCE GREEN BAG GRANTS
H-E-B and Keep Texas Beautiful proudly introduced the 2008 H-E-B / Keep Texas Beautiful Recycling Grants on April 22 to help celebrate Earth Day. The initiative will provide a minimum of $20,000 in funding semi-annually to implement new or enhance existing local, voluntary recycling activities. The grants will support KTB affiliates' efforts in H-E-B service areas, with funding ranging from $150 to $3,000.

The “Green Bag Grants” are being established through funds raised from the sale of reusable green bags at any H-E-B, with $0.05 from each bag sale being contributed to the program. The Green Bag Grants program will be accepting applications through September, with grant recipients announced on Texas Recycles Day (November 15, 2008).

Eligible affiliates (In Good Standing or better for 2008 and located in H-E-B service areas) will be notified later this month. To learn more, visit www.ktb.org/hebrecyclinggrant.htm or call 1-800-CLEAN-TX.

TEXAS ENVIRONMENTAL EXCELLENCE AWARD WINNERS HONORED
The 2008 Texas Environmental Excellence Award (TEEA) winners were honored on Wednesday, April 30. Individual winners included KTB board member emeritus Ruthe Jackson and former Keep Richland Hills Beautiful executive director Ruby Dillon. The TEEA celebrates the bold efforts of citizens, communities, businesses, and organizations to preserve and protect the Texas environment.

A total of 12 winners in 10 categories were honored during a banquet at the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality’s Environmental Trade Fair and Conference. To learn more about the TEEA and see a full list of winners, visit www.teea.org.