Sam Cartwright Re-Elected To Texas Chamber

Sam Cartwright, President/CEO of the Dumas/Moore County Chamber of Commerce, has been re-elected to a three-year term on the Board of Directors of the Texas Chamber of Commerce Executives Association.

TCCE is the premier organization for chamber of commerce professionals in the state of Texas that enhances professional growth of its members while developing skills to improve the business climate in Texas.  This organization has over 300 Texas chambers and affiliates as members.

Cartwright says this is indeed an honor for him and brings recognition to Dumas and Moore County.

Leadership Dumas/Moore County For January Update

Last month this Leadership group learned about Public Safety with both the city and county entities.  On January 12, 2011 this group was schooled in the "ABC's of Local Government".  They started their day at the Dumas Police Department Conference Room with donuts and coffee (yes it's funny).  City Manager Vince DiPiazza spoke to the group about City Government, City Commission Budget and then toured the city facilities.

They toured the landfill, animal shelter and seen in the picture above at the very top the recycling area.

One of the dogs from the animal shelter even got rescued by one of the participants of the Leadership group who could not stand the thought of it being put down.

The group moved to the County Commissioners' Courtroom on the 2nd floor of the Courthouse to learn about County Government with Moore County Judge Rowdy Rhoades.  Elected officials and department heads spoke with the Leadership group at lunch.  The group then toured the Airport, County Barn, Library and First Street Annex.

Keith Villyard Promoted to Director of Marketing, Sales, and Development

AMARILLO ~ Lone Star Ballet announces today that Keith Villyard, Director of Sales since 2007, has been promoted from within the organization to the position of Director of Marketing, Sales, and Development. 

Keith has played a key role at Lone Star Ballet since 2005, a pivotal year that began a significant period of growth and success unmatched in the company’s thirty-five year history.  Since 2005 Lone Star Ballet accomplishments include facility development and expansion of a new campus at its Amarillo headquarters, inaugural status as a resident company of the Globe-News Center for the Performing Arts, the production of The New Nutcracker, expansion of Lone Star Dance Academy to six locations throughout the Texas Panhandle and five fold growth in enrollment.

Craig Henderson, Executive Director announces, “We are very pleased to make this promotion from within.”  Sighting the importance of the company’s long term success, Henderson states, “Keith’s professionalism, performance, and demeanor in sales have been influential in achieving our excellent record of customer relations and growth.”  Henderson adds, “Keith is known for his ability to overcome problems during challenging times.”  Click Here for {{more}}

 A transplant from Longview, Texas, to the Texas Panhandle in 1991, Keith arrived to perform in the musical drama TEXAS, under the direction of Neil Hess.   He has been active in the arts here ever since.  “I love the plains and its people.  I love the arts here and the sky.   I had never seen the sky before West Texas,” says Villyard.  Keith remained here to attend West Texas A&M University attaining a Theatre Degree and a Teaching Certificate.

A member-volunteer at First Baptist Church Amarillo, Villyard directs drama under the leadership of Dan Baker, Minister of Music.  Dan Baker notes, “Keith’s dedication to the arts in our church and in this community surpasses any I have ever seen.  As I begin any project, I consider his input and opinion.  Lending direction, clarity, and passion to everything he does, Keith is a valuable asset and a great friend to First Baptist.”

Villyard began his duties January 3, 2011, and stands ready to assist the area media to report the news and events of Lone Star Ballet, whose mission is to produce and promote the art of dance; and contribute to the education, culture and entertainment of the people of the Texas Panhandle.            

Dumas Dynamite Volleyball

Dumas Dynamite Volleyball Team

Dumas Dynamite Volleyball Top Row: Misty Preston(Coach), Macey Craigmiles, Adrianna Soliz, Leslie Naveraz, Baylie Wackler, Jerry Swaim(Coach). Bottom Row: Ashley Swaim, Kamree Wackler, Jordon Kiewit. Not pictured: Taylor Holt Dynamite played in the Jett volleyball tournament Jan, 8, 2011 in Amarillo. The girls went  undefeated. They won the championship game 25-12, 25-7. They all played very well and  look forward to an awesome season.              

USDA Safeguards Prove Successful In Administration Of Farm Programs

Farm Service Agency Procedural Controls Protect Taxpayers from Fraud and Abuse

(COLLEGE STATION, TX), - Juan M. Garcia, Executive Director of USDA’s Farm Service Agency in Texas today used the release of a final rule that targets fraud and abuse of farm programs to join FSA Administrator Jonathan Coppess and state again his unequivocal commitment to accuracy. At issue has been the dispersal of payments to agricultural producers after an individual’s death, a situation that is covered in the final rule published in the Federal Register on Dec. 28, 2010.

“It is common and legally required for USDA to pay estates of producers who die, because heirs have legal rights to receive program payments earned during the farmer’s lifetime,” said Garcia. “Generally, error rates have been small, but an audit in 2007 highlighted areas for improvement. Since then, we at FSA have worked hard to make procedural improvements that have further reduced error rates and are saving taxpayers significantly. We are codifying those improvements with this final regulation.”

The U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) audit in 2007 found that the vast majority of farm payments were made properly. Only two percent of payments to estates of deceased farmers were paid when the estate was not entitled to payment. Still, this error rate prompted USDA to implement additional safeguards and to strengthen data reconciliation procedures to ensure that payments made on behalf of deceased persons were not distributed incorrectly. As a result, in 2008, errors dropped to .008 percent, and in 2009, they fell even further to .007 percent.
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FSA additional safeguards include:

• Each quarter (double the amount of time required by the law); USDA matches individuals who receive FSA program payments with data provided by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to determine if any program recipient is deceased.

• Under the Direct and Counter-Cyclical Payment Program, counter-cyclical payments may be legally issued up to two years and three months after program enrollment. The same taxpayer identification number must be used for the entire program payment period to properly track the issuance of program benefits.

• Deceased individual listings are investigated through local FSA county offices. FSA would only pay a farmer after death when the farmer applied for the benefit before death and is eligible to receive the benefit, but died before the payment was received. These cases account for payments made by FSA to deceased individuals.

For more information about the Farm Service Agency and Farm Programs please visit your local USDA Service Center or FSA county office or www.fsa.usda.gov.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer and lender. To file a complaint of discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Ave., SW, Washington, DC 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice), or (202) 720-6382 (TDD).

Card Buffet At The Art Center For All Your Card Needs

Margaret Parsons is hosting a Card Buffet on Monday, January 17 at the Art Center (1810 South Dumas Ave) from 7pm-9pm. You can create 12 all-occasion cards for a variety of occasions. 

Delight your friends with hand made cards celebrating their birthdays, anniversaries or friendship. We will even sneak in some Valentine’s Day cards! 

Reserve your spot today!! Registration is $25. Deadline for registration is January 14. Hope to see you there!!! Margaret Parsons 114 Mulberry Dumas, Texas 79029 806-922-7425

 E-mail: meparsons@cableone.net www.craftwithmargaret.stampninup.net 

Providing Hope in Haiti One Year Later

LCIF Visit to Haiti, 02-25-10

Oak Brook, Illinois, USA, January 10, 2011 – Six hundred families are moving into new homes, thanks to Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) and Lions around the world. These families lost everything on January 12, 2010, after the devastating 7.0 earthquake. Lions were among the first to offer help, providing food, water and shelter. One year later, Lions are still helping in Haiti.

In October, Renande Pierre-Louis and her family of seven moved from their Lions-provided tent into a new provisional home. Families living in the Lions’ tent cities will benefit through this project. View photos of these homes.

LCIF is working with HELP, a German non-governmental organization (NGO), to provide the homes. HELP has a 30-year history of providing humanitarian assistance. In nearly 20 countries around the world, the organization supports communities based on need. In Haiti, HELP is reconstructing homes for victims of the earthquake.

“The houses, earthquake and hurricane proof, will be built where the families were living before the earthquake,” said Pierre-Richard Duchemin of the Port-au-Prince Delmas Lions Club. “Renande Pierre-Louis, her husband and six children are the first beneficiaries.”

This is the first major project using resources from LCIF’s Haiti Earthquake fund that totals more than US$6.1 million in donations from Lions worldwide. In total, US$2 million will support the housing project. LCIF allocated US$1.4 million, Lions from Germany contributed US$696,250 and HELP is providing administrative costs.

To identify beneficiaries, Lions and HELP surveyed each camp to find people with the greatest need to relocate. Once homes are complete, beneficiaries will receive basic furniture for their houses. In addition, latrines and other essentials will be provided for the community.

At this time, a limited number of NGOs are supporting provisional housing, even though there is a considerable need. The 600 homes significantly add to the number of provisional houses in Haiti, as only 5,000 have been built to date. Still, nearly 225,000 are needed. The end goal is to shift all people living in Lions’ tents to provisional housing.

Lions and LCIF have had a strong presence in Haiti since the earthquake. Within hours of the quake, LCIF received unprecedented interest from people worldwide who wanted to help.  {{more}}

“Lions’ response to rebuilding Haiti is truly incredible,” said Eberhard J. Wirfs, Chairperson of Lions Clubs International Foundation. “Following the earthquake, Lions gave generously to support relief efforts and remain committed to providing hope moving forward.”

A US$50,000 Major Catastrophe Grant was awarded immediately. Lions in the Dominican Republic collected goods and used LCIF funds to purchase relief supplies including medical aid, food and clean drinking water. View a video of these relief efforts.

Three tent cities in the Port-au-Prince neighborhoods of Delmas, Blanchard and Carrefour-Feuille were established to house people who lost their homes. Nearly 2,500 people still reside in these establishments. The tent cities have become communities in a sense, providing essential needs for the people living there. All of them have a market to sell and buy goods, a worship space and a clinic that provides medical care.

Lions leaders and LCIF staff have visited the area several times, most recently in September 2010, to help in developing long-term plans and assess ongoing needs. Other projects are currently being reviewed. Additionally, the Lions of Haiti have formed a committee of Lions leaders for Haiti, Dominican Republic and neighboring countries to oversee the reconstruction efforts.

LCIF is leveraging Lions' donations through collaboration with other NGOs and corporations committed to rebuilding Haiti. The International Organization of Migration provided supplies and assistance to Lions camps. LCIF also partnered with the shipping company, Maersk, and the World Food Program, to ship tents donated by Lions of Sweden and food donated by the World Food Program, to Haiti free of charge. The Foundation continues discussions with other organizations to partner on projects in Haiti.

Moving forward, LCIF remains committed to rebuilding Haiti. Projects will be implemented over the long-term and additional projects are currently being reviewed.Similar to other disasters, Lions hope to rebuild homes and hospitals, redevelop the eye care delivery system, and provide help for those with disabilities, including those disabled because of this disaster.

“The Haitian Lions Relief and Reconstruction Committee, working jointly with all the Haitian Lions clubs and LCIF, has a strategic approach to give a much bigger dimension to our efforts and to LCIF funds,” said Duchemin.

Restoring hope to Haitians will offer them a better future, much like Pierre-Louis and her family. LCIF is dedicated to restoring this hope for years to come, and this is made possible through the generous support of the Lions international family.

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Lions Clubs International Foundation is the charitable arm of Lions Clubs International, the largest service club organization in the world with 1.35 million members in 206 geographic areas and countries. LCIF awards nearly US$2 million annually for Lions-led disaster relief efforts. Last year alone, relief efforts helped 118,050 people following disasters. LCIF was ranked by a Financial Times' study as the number one non-governmental organization with which to partner. Contribute at www.lcif.org/donate.